The Effects of COVID-19 Confinement on the Spanish Family: Adaptation or Change?

Abstract

Spain is one of the countries that has been most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. As a southern European country, Spain is characterized by high levels of sociability and the vital role of the family in its social structure. The intense confinement phase raised many questions about how the Spanish family would adapt to this crisis. This study analyzes the consequences of confinement on three areas of family life: the emotional state of its members, family relationships inside and outside the home, and the impact of ICTs on families in isolation. Only statistically representative data published by Spain’s main research institutes are used for this study. The results highlight the important adaptive capacity of the Spanish family, the activation of solidarity networks and the improvement in internal and external family relationships. This situation has served to accelerate the development of new technologies in the domestic sphere, with effects on the communicative relationship between its members and to open the debate on teleworking as a tool for reconciliation of work and family life.