Gender-related differences in the psychological impact of confinement as a consequence of COVID-19 in Spain

ABSTRACT

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a significant effect on our mental health. In this research, we aim to analyse gender-related differences in the psychological impact of the Covid-19 lockdown in Spain. A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey (n = 1041) with two measurements: at two and five weeks after the declaration of the state of emergency and stay-at-home order in Spain. The presence of depressive symptoms, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), perceived loneliness and spiritual well-being were evaluated. Linear mixed models with random slopes were calculated for each variable in the study in order to analyse the effect of longitudinal measures and interaction with gender. Women showed more symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD, more feelings of loneliness and less spiritual well-being compared to men. The psychological impact caused by the pandemic is maintained over time and increases for depression. Covid-19 appears to be having a greater psychological impact on women than men. More attention needs to be paid to this issue to establish the causes and reduce these differences.

KEYWORDS:

• Care
• Covid-19
• gender inequalities
• housework
• lockdown

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Anti-Stigma Chair Group 5 – University Complutense of Madrid that supported us in the collection of the sample.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, BA, upon reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. A state of emergency in Spain comes into force “when extraordinary circumstances make it impossible to maintain normality through the ordinary powers of the competent authorities”, as established by the Organic Law. 4/1981. The state of emergency allows the limitation of the rights of free movement or permanence of persons at determined times and places to carry out temporary requisitions of all types of properties, to temporarily intervene and occupy workshop industries or factories, to limit or ration the use of services or consumption, as well as to give the necessary orders to ensure the supply of markets and the functioning of services.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Berta Ausín

Berta Ausín is a Doctor and Professor in the Faculty of Psychology at the Complutense University of Madrid, teaching Psychological Evaluation and Aging. She belongs to the research group “Evaluation and psychological research in mental health and society” at the Complutense University of Madrid, which studies the mental health of disadvantaged and vulnerable populations: homeless, disabled, elderly, those with serious mental illness, etc. She has published her work in specialized books and over one hundred national and international scientific publications. She is a member of the UCM-Grupo 5 Against Stigma.

Clara González-Sanguino

Clara González-Sanguino is a PhD Candidate in the School of Psychology at the Complutense University of Madrid. She obtained a master´s degree in Integrative Psychotherapy from Alcalá University and a bachelor´s degree in psychology from the University of Salamanca. Her current doctoral thesis is about mental illness stigma. She is interested in the stigma of mental illness and the internalized stigma associated with various conditions such as depression, anxiety or serious mental disorders.

Miguel Ángel Castellanos

Miguel Ángel Castellanos is a Doctor and Professor of methodology in the Faculty of Psychology at the Complutense University of Madrid. Since the start of his professional career he has focused on areas related to data analysis and new technologies, especially in the construction of psychological assessment tests and computational psychometry. He belongs to the research group “Evaluation and psychological research in mental health and society” at the Complutense University of Madrid, which studies the mental health of disadvantaged and vulnerable populations: homeless, disabled, elderly, those with serious mental illness, etc. He is a member of the UCM-Grupo 5 Against Stigma.

Manuel Muñoz

Manuel Muñoz is a Doctor and Professor of Evaluation and Psychological Diagnosis in the Faculty of Psychology at the Complutense University of Madrid and is the director of the Group for Evaluation and Research in Mental Health and Society at the Complutense University of Madrid. He is the director of the UCM-Grupo 5 Against Stigma. Over the past 25 years he has focused on researching the relationships between mental health, disability and social exclusion, especially in disadvantaged or vulnerable groups (homeless people, people with mental disorders, elderly people, etc.). His work has been published in specialized books and more than a hundred national and international scientific publications.