Gender differences in the reaction to COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have profoundly affected global populations.
• Understanding gender-specific psychological impacts is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate gender differences in psychiatric symptomatology, coping strategies, resilience, and belief in a just world (BJW) during the COVID-19 lockdown.
• To identify factors contributing to psychological distress in men and women.

Main Methods:

• Online survey of 1,065 Israeli adults (309 men, 756 women) during the first mandatory lockdown (March 2020).
• Assessed depression, anxiety, somatization, coping strategies (emotion-focused and problem-focused), resilience, and BJW.
• Statistical analyses, including t-tests and regression, were used to examine gender differences and predictors of psychological distress.

Main Results:

• Women reported significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, and somatization compared to men.
• More women stopped working and fewer considered their jobs essential during the lockdown.
• Women expressed greater concern for others' health and finances, while men exhibited higher resilience and BJW.
• Emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies were more prevalent among women.

Conclusions:

• The pandemic lockdown imposed a heavier burden on women, contributing to greater psychological distress.
• While women employed more coping tactics, men demonstrated higher resilience and BJW.
• Factors such as being female, younger age, emotion-focused coping, lower resilience, and specific worries explained a significant portion of psychological distress variance.