Qualitative Longitudinal Interviews With Households: Impact of COVID-19 and Lockdown on Families With Young Children Living in Tower Hamlets, 2020-2022

The aim of our study was to assess the economic, social, and health impacts of the pandemic on families both expecting babies, and those with children under five living in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Interview data was collected as part of the second phase of the research; a repeated longitudinal qualitative panel of 20 households purposively sampled from the Wave 1 survey to represent different household structures and types. In-depth interviews were conducted via video or telephone with up to 2 adults per household (mothers and fathers. Wave 1 of the panel interviews took place between January 2021 and April 2021 with wave 2 between September - December 2021. Our sampling strategy was carefully constructed to ensure representation of the following dimensions: Household type (single, couple, multi-generational); Income (low, moderate, and high); Ethnicity (White, South Asian, Other ethnic groups). Only one household member could complete the survey. If sampled, they were then contacted to take part in the qualitative panel along with other adult members of their households. The qualitative interviews utilised supporting interactive activities and focused on children’s development in the context of family’s everyday lives during the pandemic, how parents and kin supported each other emotionally and practically, and how families are engaged in their communities during the Covid-19 era. Interviews were focused on target child [under 5 years old at wave 1], identified as CHILD A in transcripts. Households were interviewed approximately 6 months later.