Abstract
We use the UK Household Longitudinal Study and compare pre-COVID-19 pandemic (2017-2019) and during-COVID-19 pandemic data (April 2020) for the same group of individuals to assess and quantify changes in mental health as measured by changes in the GHQ-12 (General Health Questionnaire), among ethnic groups in the UK. We confirm the previously documented average deterioration in mental health for the whole sample of individuals interviewed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we find that the average increase in mental distress varies by ethnicity and gender. Both women -regardless of their ethnicity- and Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) men experienced a higher average increase in mental distress than White British men, so that the gender gap in mental health increases only among White British individuals. These ethnic-gender specific changes in mental health persist after controlling for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Finally, we find some evidence that, among men, Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani individuals have experienced the highest average increase in mental distress with respect to White British men.
Highlights
In this paper we investigate the impact of a massive negative health and economic shock, the COVID-19 pandemic, on mental wellbeing by ethnicity and gender in the UK
Pooling the two cross-sections of data, we find that the average mental distress (GHQ-12: 036) has increased from 11.44 [95% CI: 11.36, 11.52] in 2017-2019 to 12.52 [95% CI: 12.40, 12.65] in April 2020, a 0.19 standard deviation increase [95% CI: 0.17, 0.21]
The 8.5% of BAME is the sum of approximately 2% Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani (BIP), and 6.5% of other minority ethnic groups. 55.5% of our sample participants are women
Summary
In this paper we investigate the impact of a massive negative health and economic shock, the COVID-19 pandemic, on mental wellbeing by ethnicity and gender in the UK. This is an interesting outcome for economists and policymakers alike, if only because of the well-established link between psychological wellbeing and productivity [1]. In the UK, 1 out of 4 deaths in March and April 2020 (38,156 deaths) involved the Coronavirus [3], there were 177,487 cumulative positive cases until April 30 [4], and the level of economic activity in the UK plummeted by 15.7 points between the first quarter and the second quarter of 2020 [5] These health and economic costs are affecting.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
