TY - JOUR
T1 - Gender Inequality and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic
AU - Borrescio-Higa, Florencia
AU - Valenzuela, Patricio
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2021 Borrescio-Higa and Valenzuela.
PY - 2021/12/9
Y1 - 2021/12/9
N2 - Objective: We explore gender differences in mental health deterioration and psychological well-being due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the mechanisms through which these differences may operate. Methods: Using data from the Life during Pandemic survey in Chile, which covers 2,545 adult respondents, we estimate econometric models to explore gender differences in psychological well-being and mental health as well as economic fragility and household workload during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: We find women are more likely to report overall bad mental health and deterioration of well-being. They are also more likely to have a new diagnosis of a mental health problem, to be pursuing treatment and taking prescription medication. Moreover, women report an increase in household chores and in childcare, and are more likely to have lost their employment or experienced a loss of income due to the pandemic. Conclusion: Our results offer a general picture of gender differences in the psychological impact of COVID-19. We argue that policies that mitigate economic stress and address the needs of women specifically may ease mental health deterioration due to the pandemic.
AB - Objective: We explore gender differences in mental health deterioration and psychological well-being due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the mechanisms through which these differences may operate. Methods: Using data from the Life during Pandemic survey in Chile, which covers 2,545 adult respondents, we estimate econometric models to explore gender differences in psychological well-being and mental health as well as economic fragility and household workload during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: We find women are more likely to report overall bad mental health and deterioration of well-being. They are also more likely to have a new diagnosis of a mental health problem, to be pursuing treatment and taking prescription medication. Moreover, women report an increase in household chores and in childcare, and are more likely to have lost their employment or experienced a loss of income due to the pandemic. Conclusion: Our results offer a general picture of gender differences in the psychological impact of COVID-19. We argue that policies that mitigate economic stress and address the needs of women specifically may ease mental health deterioration due to the pandemic.
KW - COVID-19
KW - gender
KW - inequality
KW - mental health
KW - well-being
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85121720170&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/ijph.2021.1604220
DO - 10.3389/ijph.2021.1604220
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85121720170
SN - 1661-8556
VL - 66
JO - International Journal of Public Health
JF - International Journal of Public Health
M1 - 1604220
ER -