Parent-child conflicts, and punishment of children during the three-week COVID-19 lockdown in Ghana

The study examined the factors contributing to children’s conflicts with their parents, the causes of parental punishment, and the underlying reasons for such punishment during the three-week lockdown enforced in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional mixed-methods approach was used to obtain data from a sample of 385 children aged 10–17 in the Ghanaian cities of Accra and Tema. Approximately 58% of the participants reported experiencing parental conflict during the three-week lockdown period. Also, parent-child conflicts were more prevalent among older children than younger children, as well as among female children than male children. According to the findings, parental punishment was administered to two out of every ten children for misbehaviour that occurred during the lockdown. The pandemic increased financial hardships, placing many parents under pressure, and driving them to subject their children to many forms of punishment at home. It is recommended that extensive family support and psychosocial measures be put in place in the case of a pandemic lockdown to prevent excessive punishment that can lead to the abuse of children. The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP), which oversees child-related matters in the country must lead this.