Abstract
The article deals with the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on family relationships. It is noted that any family has been in a difficult position for more than a year, which has adversely affected all areas of its livelihoods and led to an increase in the number of divorces, and, as a result, of incomplete families. Therefore, it is not surprising that family problems, family relationships, attract scientists’ particular attention. Taking into account the importance and relevance of the outlined problems, we have analysed the factors of interpersonal interaction which negatively affect family well-being; they are: conflict relations between spouses, increased emotional tension, lack of communication, the authority of one of spouses, misunderstanding and imposing of inadequate social roles, low level of culture in family relationships. To determine the impact of quarantine on family relationships, a questionnaire was developed on the on-line platform of Google-Forms. 84 married couples were involved into a survey. The analysis of the results testified that in a third of the polled families who took part in the study, significant problems associated with the organisation of family life under conditions of the quarantine arose. This is the evidence that members of the family are not able to spend time together, they lack joint topics and interests, lacking respect and mutual understanding or tolerance towards each other. Working with various types of families (prosperous, non-social, those with low-income, large families), it is necessary for a social worker to take into account the peculiarities of working with different families and, on this basis, to use adequate forms and methods of work. In order to prevent destructive consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, social workers need to strengthen advisory work in on-line and offline formats for the importance of communication within interpersonal relationships, demonstrating openness and trust in relations, adequate behavioural models in conflict situations. Socio-pedagogical work with the family within a quarantine should be aimed at restoring lost trust, harmonisation of married couples’ relationships, creating a favourable microclimate in the family. An important step in raising the culture-related level of family relationships is the creation of innovative complexes of programs by social service centres intended for families, children and youth on the on-line platforms.