The Filipino family in a pandemic: A crosssectional study on the state of the household environment of COVID-19 patients in the

Leopoldo  P. Sison Jr.,; Katrina Nicole  B. Abuda,; Miguel  A. Abad,; Angela Nicole  D. Abarca,; Devann Ross  O. Abayon,; Harold Emman  P. Abeleda,; Patricia Nicole  M. Abello,; Vince Joshua  L. Abne,; Denise Michelle  A. Abrilla,; Daniella  L. Agbayani,; Jill Andrea  S. Agreda,; Norbert Lingling  D. Uy,

The Filipino family in a pandemic: A crosssectional study on the state of the household environment of COVID-19 patients in the

Abstract:

Introduction Under COVID-19 guidelines, families are spending extended hours together within a limited physical space, giving rise to a living situation that can bring families closer together and/or lead to conflicts. This study aimed to determine the current state of household cohesion and conflict among families with confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines. Methods This was a cross-sectional study using the COVID-19 Household Environment Scale (CHES) as a self-administered questionnaire among adult persons who belonged to households with at least one family member previously diagnosed or currently with COVID-19 in August and September 2021. Participants were recruited online using convenience and snowball sampling. The CHES is a 30-item tool which measures conflict and cohesion through the Conflict and Togetherness Subscales, respectively. Results The composite median values of 386 participants surveyed reveal scores that were clustered to the left for the Conflict Subscale and neutrality for the Togetherness Subscale. Conclusion There is a general increase in household conflict and a non-significant change in togetherness among the surveyed families. The composite median values, if taken compoundly, imply the existence of more conflict and less togetherness.