Effects of the covid-Pandemic: The Role of Family Culture and Effects on well-Being

[en] During the COVID-pandemic, governments across the globe put restrictions in place to curb the spread of the virus. The present study aimed to investigate links between family models and subjective well-being in light of these restrictions. A total of N = 244 participants completed our online questionnaire during the strict lockdown in April-May 2020 in Luxembourg. Using cluster analysis, we identified three family models: psychologically interdependent families (focus: cohesion and social support), independent families (focus: autonomy), and interdependent families (focus: enmeshment, cohesion, social support). The independent family cluster showed lower well-being before and during the pandemic compared to psychologically interdependent families. Results are discussed regarding the question of whether different relations between family models and subjective well-being were an effect of the pandemic or if they were merely made visible through the pandemic, and implications of these findings are discussed in the family model framework.

Disciplines :

Social, industrial & organizational psychology

Author, co-author :

Minelli, Anne; University of Luxembourg

MURDOCK, Elke ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE) > Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences (DBCS) > Lifespan Development, Family and Culture

ALBERT, Isabelle ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE) > Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences (DBCS) > Lifespan Development, Family and Culture

External co-authors :

Language :

English

Title :

Effects of the covid-Pandemic: The Role of Family Culture and Effects on well-Being

Publication date :

17 August 2025

Journal title :

Journal of Intergenerational Relationships

ISSN :

1535-0770

Publisher :

Informa UK Limited

Pages :

1-21

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Focus Area :

Migration and Inclusive Societies

Additional URL :

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15350770.2025.2533559

Available on ORBilu :

since 25 August 2025

Statistics

Number of views

60 (4 by Unilu)

Number of downloads

36 (1 by Unilu)

More statistics

Scopus citations^®

Scopus citations^®
without self-citations

OpenCitations

OpenAlex citations

Bibliography

Albert, I., & Barros Coimbra, S., (2017). Family cultures in the context of migration and ageing. Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, 51(2), 205–222. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12124-017-9381-y
Albert, I., Schwarz, B., Mayer, B., & Trommsdorff, G., (2022). Familiale Generationsbeziehungen. In J., Ecarius & A., Schierbaum (Eds.), Handbuch Familie (pp. 511–528). Springer VS. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-531-19985-6_24
Allen, J. P., McElhaney, K. B., Land, D. J., Kuperminc, G. P., Moore, C. W., O’Beirne–Kelly, H., & Kilmer, S. L., (2003). A secure base in adolescence: Markers of attachment security in the mother–adolescent relationship. Child Development, 74(1), 292–307. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.t01-1-00536
Beisenkamp, A., Hallmann, S., & Klöckner, C. A., (2004). Familie aus der Perspektive von Kindern zwischen 9 und 14 Jahren. Zeitschrift für Familienforschung, 16(2), 130–143. https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-323946
Brescó de Luna, I., & van Alphen, F., (2022). The imaginative co-construction of past and future in times of crisis. In M., Dege & I., Strasser (Eds.), Global pandemics and epistemic crises in psychology (pp. 46–55). Routledge.
Bridges, L. J., (2003). Autonomy as an element of developmental well-being. In M. H., Bornstein, L., Davidson, C. L. M., Keyes, K. A., Moore, & W. H., Foege (Eds.), Well-being: Positive development across the life course (pp. 167–175). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Cigoli, V., & Scabini, E., (2006). Family identity: Ties, symbols, and transitions. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Dykstra, P., Komter, A., & Komter, A. E., (2010). Where is the exit? Intergenerational ambivalence and relationship quality in high contact ties. Journal of Aging Studies, 24(2), 105–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2008.10.006
Greenfield, P. M., Keller, H., Fuligni, A., & Maynard, A., (2003). Cultural pathways through universal development. Annual Review of Psychology, 54(1), 461–490. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.54.101601.145221
Hawkins, S. S., & Manne, S. L., (2004). Family support in the aftermath of trauma. In D. R., Catherall (Ed.), Handbook of stress, trauma, and the family (pp. 231–260). Routledge.
Hofstede, G., (n.d.). Country comparison. Hofstede Insights, 18, 2021. https://www.theculturefactor.com/country-comparison-tool?countries=italy,luxembourg,the-uk
Horesh, D., & Brown, A. D., (2020). Traumatic stress in the age of COVID-19: A call to close critical gaps and adapt to new realities. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, & Policy, 12(4), 331–335. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000592
International Wellbeing Group. (2013). Personal wellbeing index adult (5th ed.). Australian Centre on Quality of Life, Deakin University. http://www.acqol.com.au/instruments#measures
Kağıtçıbası, C., (2005). Autonomy and relatedness in cultural context: Implications for self and family. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 36(4), 403–422. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022105275959
Kağıtçıbası, C., (2013). Adolescent autonomy-relatedness and the family in cultural context: What is optimal?Journal of Research on Adolescence, 23(2), 223–235. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12041
Kağıtçıbası, Ç., (1996). The autonomous-relational self: A new synthesis. European Psychologist, 1(3), 180–186. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040.1.3.180
Kağıtçıbası, Ç., (2017). Family, self, and human development across cultures: Theory and applications (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315205281
Klöckner, C. A., Beisenkamp, A., & Schröder, R., (2002). Das LBS-Kinderbarometer. In L. I. J., Familie (Ed.), Kindheit 2001 Das LBS-Kinderbarometer (pp. 21–43). VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-322-92258-8_2
Kreppner, K., & Klöckner, C. A., (2002). Kinder in ihrer Familie. In L.-I.-J., Familie (Ed.), Kindheit 2001 Das LBS-Kinderbarometer (pp. 211–236). VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-322-92258-8_2
Lang, F. R., Wagner, J., & Neyer, F. J., (2009). Interpersonal functioning across the lifespan: Two principles of relationship regulation. Advances in Life Course Research, 14(1–2), 40–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.alcr.2009.03.004
Lüscher, K., & Hoff, A., (2013). Intergenerational ambivalence: Beyond solidarity and conflict. In I., Albert & D., Ferring (Eds.), Intergenerational relations: European perspectives on family and society (pp. 39–63). Policy Press.
The Luxembourg Government. (2020). The official portal of the government of the Grand duchy of Luxembourg. Retrieved July10, 2020, fromhttps://gouvernement.lu/fr.html
Manzi, C., Vignoles, V. L., Regalia, C., & Scabini, E., (2006). Cohesion and enmeshment revisited: Differentiation, identity, and well-being in two European cultures. Journal of Marriage and Family, 68(3), 673–689. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2006.00282.x
Mayer, B., (2013). Family change theory: A preliminary evaluation on the basis of recent cross cultural studies. In I., Albert & D., Ferring (Eds.), Intergenerational relations: European perspectives in family and society (pp. 167–187). Policy Press. https://doi.org/10.1332/policypress/9781447300984.001.0001
Mayer, B., Trommsdorff, G., Kağıtçıbası, C., & Mishra, R. C., (2012). Family models of independence/interdependence and their intergenerational similarity in Germany, Turkey, and India. Family Science, 3(1), 64–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/19424620.2011.671503
OECD. (2020). COVID-19: Protecting people and societies. OECD policy responses to coronavirus (COVID-19). Retrieved July10, 2020, fromhttps://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/view/?ref=126_126985-nv145m3l96&title=COVID-19-Protecting-people-and-societies
Peroni, C., & O’Connor, K. J., (2020). One in three Luxembourg residents report their mental health declined during the COVID-19 crisis results of the COVID-19 social and economic impact survey. Periodical of the STATEC: Regards, 8. Retrieved July10, 2020, from. https://statistiques.public.lu/catalogue-publications/regards/2020/PDF-08-2020.pdf
Rothbaum, F., & Trommsdorff, G., (2007). Do roots and wings complement or oppose one another?: The socialization of relatedness and autonomy in cultural context. In J. E., Grusec & P. D., Hastings (Eds.), The handbook of socialization (pp. 461–489). The Guilford Press.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L., (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68–78. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68
Sabatelli, R. M., & Mazor, A., (1985). DifferentiatiDifferentiatiOn, individuation, and identity formation: The integration of family system and individual developmental perspectives. Adolescence, 20(79), 619–633.
Scabini, E., & Manzi, C., (2011). Family processes and identity. In S. J., Schwartz, K., Luyckx, & V. L., Vignoles (Eds.), Handbook of identity theory and research (pp. 565–584). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7988-9
Trommsdorff, G., (2006). Parent-child relations over the lifespan: A cross-cultural perspective. In K. H., Rubin & O. B., Chung (Eds.), Parenting beliefs, behaviors, and parent-child relations: A cross-cultural perspective (pp. 143–183). Psychology Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203942901