Abstract
Objective:
The COVID-19 pandemic influences mental health drastically. Therefore, our aim was to investigate whether biological sex and gender-related factors are associated with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and Methods:
The International COVID-19 Awareness and Responses Evaluation Study is an international multiwave cross-sectional observational cohort study of public awareness, attitudes, and responses to public health policies (
Results:
Positive correlations were found between female sex and “feeling nervous, anxious or worried” (OR = 3.2, p < 0.001, 95% CI 1.87–5.63) and “feeling sad, depressed or hopeless” (OR 1.8, p = 0.031, CI 1.05–3.05). Male sex was related to more frequently “feeling irritable, frustrated, and angry” (OR = 1.8, p = 0.04, 95% CI 1.03–2.99). Concerning gender, a negative correlation between being employed and “feeling lonely or isolated” (OR = 0.26, p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.11–0.59) was observed in the female cohort.
Conclusion:
Sex and gender differences exist in the emotional responses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Especially, within the female cohort, unemployment is negatively associated with mental health. Therefore, this study suggests more targeted psychological and social support for females during the pandemic.
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