Psychological features of the occurrence of family conflicts in conditions of self-isolation caused by the pandemic of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19)

Relevance. A new type of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) highly likely affected the family system, since all its members faced a number of psycho-traumatic factors: negative information about the disease, situations of uncertainty, conditions of self-isolation for a long time, etc. Recent studies presented to the scientific community have noted the development of anxiety-phobic and depressive reactions, increased levels of stress-related disorders, an increase in psychiatric disorders and depletion of psychological defense mechanisms among the population observed during COVID-19. At the same time, there are virtually no works reflecting the impact of COVID-19 on the state of the family system and revealing the specifics of possible solutions to problems in the family during COVID-19.

Intention. To study the peculiarities of family relationships during the period of forced selfisolation caused by COVID-19, to reveal their socio-psychological causes, and to find ways for overcoming family conflicts in this period of time.

Methodology. The study involved 43 people aged 20 to 41 who were living together with their spouses during the period of forced self-isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Features of ideas and attitudes towards the performance of basic family functions, as well as the expectations and claims of the spouses to each other during the period of self-isolation were studied using A.N. Volkov’s method «Role Expectations and Claims in Marriage». Relationships of spouses in everyday life, their attitudes toward their partner and children, toward marital and parental roles, leisure time preferences, features of intellectual interaction, and character traits were studied using V.V. Boyko’s test «Energopsychological Compatibility with Marital Partner». The subjective assessment of marital and family relations during the COVID-19 period was performed using the author’s questionnaire «Influence of self-isolation on Relationships in Married Couples».

Results and Discussion. Despite the identified specifics of attitudes, expectations and claims, which is expressed in increased differences in the indicators of the «Role expectations and claims in marriage» methodology for men and women (which can be considered as a negative factor), the revealed changes in the state of family systems compared to similar studies of the «pre-COVID» period, as well as transformation of the structure of expectations and claims of members of the modern family, revealed the absence of significant correlations between changes in relationships in a couple during the period of self-isolation, a sense of anxiety when being with a partner in selfisolation for a long time, increased conflicts in the family in the given period. Significant correlations are determined only between the emerging tensions in relationship with a partner during the period of forced self-isolation and the intensification of conflicts in the family during this period.

Conclusion. Despite of revealed insignificant influence of social conditions during the period of COVID-19 on changes in family relationships, in case of necessity of psychological correction of conflict situations in the family, psychological counseling using methods of rational, systematic family psychotherapy as well as applied relaxation by E. Jacobson is recommended. The effectiveness of these methods has been confirmed in practice.

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