Contents
Why they are affected more by mental health problems than they are
Psychology
Women were the most concerned not only about contracting Covid-19, but also about having to care for and live with people diagnosed
Mental health, especially if we talk about anxiety and depression, worsened during the home confinement experienced in Spain during the spring months of 2020. This is demonstrated by the study ‘The psychosocial impact of home confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain‘, led by IDIAPJGol researchers Anna Berenguera and Constanza Jacques. The data, based on the responses of 7000 people of legal age, show that the mental health of the population worsened, especially due to the concern of contracting the disease, the worsening of the socioeconomic situation and the idea that they live in a inadequate housing.
Furthermore, the study not only reflects this general worsening, but also shows that women
they were the most affected. A third of the women experienced anxiety and depression, while in the men these symptoms accounted for about a fifth. Likewise, the symptoms have not only affected women more, but also the population group between 18 and 35 years old.
On what things impacted him the most decline in mental health, the houses in which the days of confinement were spent are key. “The housing conditions (light, space,…) were an essential factor in explaining the mental health of the population during the confinement. A third of the people declared that the conditions of their housing were moderately, little or very inadequate to live the confinement, “they explain in the study.
Impact on the personal economy
The poor economic outlook was also an important factor in the increase in mental health problems. 40,7% of the people surveyed reported that their employment conditions worsened since confinement and 80,0% indicated that the pandemic was a problem for his personal finances. In addition, again the gender perspective can be applied in this case, since the worsening of working conditions generated more levels of depression in men and more anxiety in women.
On the other hand, that the pandemic will affect personal finances were associated with worse levels of mental health (anxiety and depression) only in women. In men, however, this was not observed to affect their mental health. “This suggests that women’s economy was more affected during the pandemic, as they were more involved in temporary, part-time and precarious employment than men,” the study argues.
Fear of illness
The third factor that most influenced when it comes to mental health care is the fear of being infected by Covid-19. Having been diagnosed or having had symptoms compatible with the disease generated symptoms of anxiety and / or depression in both men and women. On the other hand, living with someone with a diagnosis or symptomatology compatible with Covid-19 generated anxiety only in the case of women. «This is explained because women are mostly dedicated to care tasks, among them, people with a diagnosis or symptomatology compatible with the disease, “the study adds, adding that it should also be taken into account that there is concern about getting sick and not being able to take care of other people, a role that is socially assigned to them. assigned to women and that affects their emotional health.