Title Psychological responses according to gender during the early stage of covid-19 in Spain
Authors Del Río-Casanova L. , SÁNCHEZ MARTÍN, MILAGROSA, García-Dantas A. , González-Vázquez A. , Justo A.
External publication No
Means International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Scope Article
Nature Científica
JCR Quartile 1
SJR Quartile 2
JCR Impact 4.614
SJR Impact 0.814
Web https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85103501797&doi=10.3390%2fijerph18073731&partnerID=40&md5=6ec0445e4da5f954dde97ea344d87f80
Publication date 01/01/2021
ISI 000638538600001
Scopus Id 2-s2.0-85103501797
DOI 10.3390/ijerph18073731
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 sociodemo-graphic, 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 soma-tize, 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 ter-tiary prevention strategies must be taken into account when facing the distress associated with the pandemic. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Keywords behavioral response; COVID-19; gender role; health risk; mental health; psychology; risk factor; womens health; adult; aged; anxiety; Article; avoidance behavior; claustrophobia; coronavirus disease 2019; critical thinking; Depression Anxiety Stress Scale; disease course; female; human; hypochondriasis; Impact of Events Scale; major clinical study; male; mental disease assessment; mental health; middle aged; pandemic; physiological stress; population research; posttraumatic stress disorder; quarantine; risk factor; Self Care Scale; sex difference; sleep disorder; somatization; Spain; young adult; Spain
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