Abstract
Background: Current research has pointed out an increased risk of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic in women compared to men, however the reason for this difference remains unclear. The aim of this research is to study early psychological responses to the pandemic in the Spanish general population, focusing on gender differences. Methods: Nine to 14 days after the declaration of a state of emergency an online survey was conducted assessing sociodemographic, health, behavioral and COVID-19-related variables. Mental health status was evaluated by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the Self-Care Scale (SCS). Results: The study included 3520 respondents: 2611 women and 909 men. Women scored significantly higher in DASS-21 and IES-R (p < 0.05) and were more likely to somatize, suffer from hypochondriasis, sleeping disturbances and claustrophobia (p < 0.05). Being a woman can be considered a risk factor for intrusive thoughts, avoidance mechanisms, stress and anxiety (Odd Ratio = 2.7/2.3/2.3/1.6). The risk of presenting posttraumatic symptoms and emotional distress was greater in women (Odd Ratio = 6.77/4.59). General linear models to predict IES-R and DASS-21 scores clarified which variables were gender specific, such as main concerns. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that at early stages of the pandemic, women mental health was more impacted and that both genders show different concerns. Gender perspective in secondary and tertiary prevention strategies must be taken into account when facing the distress associated with the pandemic.
Highlights
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic on 11 March2020
Of the population studied [6,7,8,9,10] while post-traumatic symptoms have been reported in Diverse individual and sociodemographic factors have been linked to worse mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic [12]
120 subjects because they did not provide informed consent, 21 people were under 18 years old, 430 were respondents from other countries, 4 participants perceived themselves to be included in other gender categories, and 44 abnormal responses
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic on 11 March2020. The magnitude of the situation and the quarantine measures in many countries have no precedents, and understanding how these circumstances influence mental health is of special interest.The pandemic has hit the mental health of health care workers [1], COVID19 survivors [2,3] and their families, as well as people with mental disorders before the pandemic [4,5]. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic on 11 March. The magnitude of the situation and the quarantine measures in many countries have no precedents, and understanding how these circumstances influence mental health is of special interest. When focusing on general population, most studies found moderate to severe depressive, stress and/or anxiety symptoms in a large percentage (16–64%). Of the population studied [6,7,8,9,10] while post-traumatic symptoms have been reported in 7–53% [6,11]. Diverse individual and sociodemographic factors have been linked to worse mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic [12]. The perception of uncertainty [13] and the
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