Challenges and coping of children in large Jewish Ultra-Orthodox families during the COVID-19 pandemic

Netanel Gemara, Henya Kornik

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching effects on the well-being and functioning of children and families worldwide. The distinctive contexts in which these families live play a crucial role in determining the extent of the pandemic's effects. The Jewish Ultra-Orthodox community in Israel, with its unique context, experienced the repercussions of the pandemic in distinct ways. Objective: This qualitative study, guided by the context-informed theoretical perspective, aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and perspectives of Ultra-Orthodox families with multiple children regarding the challenges and coping of children during the pandemic, while considering the unique contexts that shape their lives. Method: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 parents (eight mothers and seven fathers) and 35 children (18 girls and 17 boys) from Ultra-Orthodox families. All families had at least six children (M = 7.5). Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the interview data, allowing for the generation of shared themes among the participants' narratives. Results: The findings revealed four primary areas that presented challenges for Ultra-Orthodox families during the COVID-19 pandemic: children's studies, fear, crowdedness, and community detachment. Despite these adversities, the study also sheds light on the coping mechanisms employed by Ultra-Orthodox families of religious beliefs, parental involvement, and the family. Conclusion: These findings contribute to understanding how Ultra-Orthodox families experienced and navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the interplay among religious beliefs, family dynamics, and community structures in shaping their responses. Implications: The insights gained from this study may inform the development of culturally competent support services for Ultra-Orthodox families during crises while potentially offering broader ideas for understanding how close-knit religious communities cope with acute crises that threaten their traditional ways of life.

Original languageEnglish
JournalFamily Relations
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Family Relations published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of National Council on Family Relations.

Keywords

  • context-informed perspective
  • COVID-19 pandemic
  • Jewish Ultra-Orthodox community
  • large families
  • risk and protection of children

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

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