Correspondence on gender disparities in the initial psychological impact of the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a variety of mental health symptoms, including increased stress, depression, and anxiety, which may be worse in women. Gender-related factors, such as higher rates of mood disorders in women and differential utilization of coping strategies, may further exacerbate the pandemic's burden on women. Additionally, young and elderly groups may be more vulnerable to psychological distress due to COVID-19. Our aim was to examine gender differences in the psychological impact of the first month of the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized that women would report worse psychosocial outcomes, prior mental health diagnosis and age would exacerbate gender differences, and there would be gender differences in the utilization of coping strategies. This study uses cross-sectional, self-report data, which relies on subjective experience and may limit generalizability. This study provides preliminary evidence that men and women may be experiencing the psychosocial impacts of the pandemic differently, which should be tracked overtime. Failing to address gender-specific implications of the pandemic may deepen disparities for women, highlighting the need to implement targeted interventions.