Table 6 Coping strategies used with children during COVID-19 by GAD-7 score and SDQ score (N = 1469)

I have openly discussed COVID-19 with my family

No children

178

12.1

53.9 (96)

10.79

0.013^*

2.7 (2)

13.42

0.004^*

Never

27

1.8

33.3 (9)

4.2 (1)

Occasionally

259

17.6

42.5 (110)

14.1 (30)

Most of the time/Always

1005

68.4

51.4 (517)

17.1 (145)

I have educated my children about PPE

No children

316

21.5

52.2 (165)

10.19

0.017^*

2.4 (3)

21.27

≤0.001^*

Never

13

0.9

23.1 (3)

0 (0)

Occasionally

56

3.8

33.9 (19)

10.9 (5)

Most of the time/Always

1084

73.8

50.3 (545)

17.3 (170)

I reassure my children they are safe

No children

331

22.5

52.6 (174)

1.89

0.595

2.3 (3)

23.80

≤0.001^*

Never

20

1.4

45 (9)

0 (0)

Occasionally

92

6.3

45.7 (42)

20.3 (16)

Most of the time/Always

1026

69.8

49.4 (507)

17 (159)

I have limited news exposure

No children

407

27.7

50.9 (207)

11.20

0.011^*

3 (6)

37.10

≤0.001^*

Never

205

14.0

41 (84)

11.2 (21)

Occasionally

216

14.7

45.8 (99)

22.1 (43)

Most of the time/Always

641

43.6

53.4 (342)

18.6 (108)

I have created a schedule for learning

No children

335

22.8

48.4 (162)

0.51

0.916

6.6 (10)

10.40

0.015^*

Never

104

7.1

51 (53)

17.4 (16)

Occasionally

288

19.6

51 (147)

16.4 (42)

Most of the time/Always

742

50.5

49.9 (370)

16.7 (111)

I have maintained a regular routine

No children

225

15.3

50.7 (114)

2.26

0.521

4.4 (4)

8.99

0.029^*

Never

47

3.2

46.8 (22)

14.7 (5)

Occasionally

185

12.6

54.6 (101)

16.2 (25)

Most of the time/Always

1012

68.9

48.9 (495)

16.3 (144)

Overall Coping strategies Total Category

Low use of coping strategies

705

48.0

49.7(366)

1.65

0.199

5.6 (10)

9.01

< 0.001^*

High use of coping strategies

765

52.0

50.3(371)

17.1 (168)