Gender Differences in Fear and Risk Perception During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abdelaziz Alsharawy,Sheryl B Ball,Ross Spoon,Alec Smith

doi:10.2139/ssrn.3817792

Abdelaziz Alsharawy, Sheryl B Ball + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3817792

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has led many people to suffer from emotional distress. Previous studies suggest that women process and express affective experiences, such as fear, with a greater intensity compared to men. We administered an online survey to a sample of participants in the United States that measures fear of COVID-19, perceptions about health and financial risks, and preventative measures taken. Despite the empirical fact that men are more likely to experience adverse health consequences from COVID-19, women report greater fear and more negative expectations about health-related consequences of COVID-19 than men. In light of this, it is surprising that women held more favorable financial outlooks than men. Women also report more negative emotional experiences generally during the pandemic, particularly in situations where other people or the government take actions that make matters worse. Though women report taking more preventative measures than men in response to the pandemic, gender differences in behavior are reduced after controlling for fear. These results shed light on how differences in emotional experiences of the pandemic may inform policy interventions.

Highlights

The consequences of COVID-19 transcend public health
We find that beliefs about the likelihood of health consequences of COVID-19 differed between men and women
We find that women reported higher fear of the COVID-19 pandemic and a higher tendency to experience negative emotions during crises in general, in particular as a result of unfavorable actions taken by people, institutions, and devices

Summary

Introduction

The consequences of COVID-19 transcend public health. The pandemic has profoundly affected economic activity, social interactions, and emotional wellbeing. Despite the universality of the pandemic, experience with previous natural disasters suggests that its impact may vary across individuals. Among earthquake victims in Turkey, women were more likely to recall panicking during the crisis (Yilmaz et al, 2005). Women were more likely to report fear of disasters, such as landslide or flooding in Taiwan (Ho et al, 2008), and to worry about serious negative consequences of climate change in Sweden (Sundblad et al, 2007)

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