Gender differences in mental health during the economic crisis

Background: Economic crises have a negative effect on mental health. Little evidence has been published on the impact of economic downturns on male and female. The aim of the study was to analyze gender differences in specific mental disorders in primary care during the current economic recession in Spain. Method: A total of 7, 914 patients in 2006 and 5, 876 patients in 2010 were recruited to collect sociodemographic data and the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders. Results: Between 2006 and 2010 the prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder increased 155.7% in men and 104.9% in women; Generalized Anxiety Disorder increased 98.3% in men and 71.3% in women; and Multisomatoform Disorder increased 100.05% in men and 37% in women. The effect of the Employment confounder was significant across all comparisons: Major Depressive Disorder Generalized Odds Ratio=2.557 for Men (p<.001), 2.046 for Women (p=.002); Generalized Anxiety Disorder Generalized Odds Ratio= 2.153 (p<.001) for Men, 1.546 for Women (p<.001); and for Non-specific Multisomatoform Disorder Generalized Odds Ratio=1.680 for Men (p<.001) and 1.301 for women (p=.014). Conclusion: Overall prevalence of mental disorders increased significantly between 2006 and 2010, especially in males, who are more sensitive to the effect of the current economic recession than women. Antecedentes: el impacto de las crisis económicas sobre la salud mental está bien documentado, pero hay poca evidencia sobre el efecto diferencial que pueda tener entre hombres y mujeres. El objetivo fue analizar las diferencias de género en la prevalencia de trastornos mentales en atención primaria durante la recesión económica en España. Método: 7.914 pacientes en 2006-2007 y 5.876 en 2010-2011 fueron encuestados para recoger datos sociodemográficos y completar la entrevista Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders. Resultados: entre 2006 y 2010 la prevalencia del Trastorno Depresivo Mayor incrementó 155, 7% en hombres y un 104, 9% en mujeres; el Trastorno de Ansiedad Generalizada aumentó 98, 3% en hombres y 71, 3% en mujeres; el Trastorno Multisomatomorfo incrementó 100, 05% en hombres y 37% en mujeres. El desempleo fue significativo en todos los análisis: Trastorno Depresivo Odds Ratio Generalizados= 2.557 en hombres (p<.001), 2.046 en mujeres (p= .002); Trastorno de Ansiedad Generalizada Odds Ratio Generalizados= 2.153 (p<.001) en hombres, 1.546 en mujeres (p<.001); Trastorno Multisomatoformo indiferenciado Odds Ratio Generalizados= 1.680 en hombres (p<.001) y 1.301 en mujeres (p= .014). Conclusiones: la prevalencia de los trastornos mentales se incrementó entre 2006 y 2010 en ambos sexos, pero especialmente en hombres, quienes son más sensibles a los efectos de la crisis económica

Gender differences in mental health status among children aged three to six years

This study was designed to examine the gender differences in children's mental health. A total of 427 children (205 male and 222 female) aged between 3 to 6 years old were recruited from 29 pre-schools in Malaysia using cluster sampling technique. Children's mental health status was measured by using Achenbach & Rescorla's Child Behavior Checklist 1.5-5(CBCL/1.5-5),which comprised of eight subscales. The CBCL is administered to the parents to answer regarding their child over a week's period. The findings revealed no significant gender differences on the overall mental health score and all its subscale scores, except for aggressive behavior. Boys had a higher mean score on aggressive behavior, compared to girls. This means that boys tended to be more aggressive than girls. Early detection of mental health and identification of the risk factors of mental health is crucial to understand the behavior of children

Gender differences in mental health and beliefs about COVID-19 among elderly internet users

Older people's mental health is at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated gender differences in home isolation, beliefs about Covid-19 and mental health indicators among elderly internet users during the pandemic. A total of 384 older persons (66.9% women and 30.1% men) answered an online survey devised to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, beliefs/attitudes about Covid-19, depression (PHQ-2), loneliness (short version of the UCLA-BR), social support and resilience (the BRS). Older women showed poorer mental health indicators, were more likely to adhere to home isolation and believe in the effectiveness of this measure, and felt more self-confident to self-isolate at home. Stronger perceived vulnerability to COVID-19 and awareness of the gravity of the disease were related to poorer mental health indicators among women. Older women are a high-risk group for negative mental health outcomes during the pandemic and should therefore be a primary focus of actions to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on mental health.La salud mental de los ancianos está en riesgo en la pandemia de la Covid-19. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar las diferencias de género en relación con el aislamiento domiciliario, las creencias sobre el Covid-19 y los indicadores de salud mental en los ancianos, que son usuarios de Internet, durante la pandemia. Una muestra de 384 ancianos (66,9% mujeres y 30,1% hombres) respondieron cuestionarios online para medir: datos sociodemográficos, creencias y actitudes sobre Covid-19, depresión (PHQ-2), soledad (versión corta del UCLA-BR), apoyo social y resiliência (EBR). Las mujeres de edad avanzada presentaron los peores índices de salud mental, se adhirieron más al aislamiento en el hogar, informaron que creían más en la efectividad del aislamiento y se sentían más seguras de sí mismas al practicarlo. Las percepciones más fuertes de vulnerabilidad y gravedad de la enfermedad mostraron más relaciones significativas con los peores índices de salud mental para las ancianas. Las ancianas son un grupo de riesgo de resultados negativos para la salud mental en la pandemia de la Covid-19, y este grupo debería ser un enfoque prioritario para las acciones de mitigación de los efectos de la pandemia en la salud mental.A saúde mental de idosos encontra-se em risco durante pandemia de Covid-19. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar diferenças de sexo com relação ao isolamento domiciliar, crenças sobre Covid-19 e indicadores de saúde mental em idosos usuários de internet durante a pandemia. A amostra foi composta por 384 idosos (66,9% mulheres e 30,1% homens) que responderam instrumentos online para aferir: dados sociodemográficos, crenças/atitudes sobre Covid-19, depressão (PHQ-2), solidão (versão curta da UCLA-BR), suporte social e resiliência (EBR). Idosas apresentaram piores índices de saúde mental, aderiram mais ao isolamento domiciliar, relataram acreditar mais na efetividade do isolamento e sentiram-se mais autoconfiantes em praticá-lo. Percepções mais fortes sobre vulnerabilidade e gravidade da doença apresentaram relações com piores índices de saúde mental para as idosas. Idosas compreendem grupo de risco para desfechos negativos em saúde mental na pandemia da Covid-19, devendo esse grupo ser foco prioritário para ações de mitigação dos efeitos da pandemia no âmbito da saúde mental

Theoretical perspectives on age and gender differences in mental health: an empirical test of Taiwan

The present study examined, first, the associations between age, gender, psychosomatic and emotional symptoms in case of Taiwan to inspect whether theories which have developed based on the studies of American society can be generalized cross-culturally, while taking in to account the effects of marital status, SES (including education, self-rated class, and income), and religion. Second, the age and gender differences on the relationships between life strain (e.g., physical health problems) and life event and psychosomatic and emotional symptoms were also investigated. Third, this study tested the age and gender differences on the relationships between social support and social contact and the mental health symptoms just mentioned. Finally, the buffering (or moderator) effect of social support on the associations between life strain and life event and the psychological distresses (e.g., psychosomatic and emotional symptoms) was tested. The data was drawn from a nationwide household survey (n = 2,530) of adults age 18 to 64. Using Multiple Classification Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (including model comparison procedures) with test for statistical significance, the findings revealed that elder people and women had greater sources of life strain and higher level of mental health symptoms. In other words, there existed significant age and gender differences among life strain, psychosomatic and emotional symptoms. However, no age or gender differences were found on social support or social contact. Social support had no buffering influence on the association between life strain (or life event) and the mental health symptoms either. In brief, some theories were supported by the findings of the present study but some other were contradicted. The findings were discussed in terms of their limitations and implications for further studies

Gender-oriented mental health prevention: a reappraisal

Many studies have investigated the impact of gender on mental health, but only a few have addressed gender differences in mental health risk and prevention. We conducted a narrative review to assess the current state of knowledge on gender-specific mental health preventive interventions, along with an analysis of gender-based risk factors and available screening strategies. Out of 1598 articles screened using a comprehensive electronic search of the PubMed, Web-of-Science, Scopus, and Cochrane databases, 53 were included for review. Among risk factors for mental health problems, there are individual, familiar, social, and healthcare factors. Individual factors include childhood adversities, which show gender differences in distribution rates. However, current childhood abuse prevention programs are not gender-specific. Familiar factors for mental health problems include maternity issues and intimate partner violence, and for both, some gender-specific preventive interventions are available. Social risk factors for mental health problems are related to education, employment, discrimination, and relationships. They all display gender differences, but these differences are rarely taken into account in mental health prevention programs. Lastly, despite gender differences in mental health service use being widely known, mental health services appear to be slow in developing strategies that guarantee equal access to care for all individuals

Gender differences and cultural contexts: psychological well-being in cross-national perspective

This study examines gender differences in psychological well-being and its causal factors in 33 countries. Previous studies documented women’s vulnerability in mental health, and according to social role explanations, gender differences in mental health are attributed to gendered socialization and gender roles assigned to men and women. Gender differences in mental health thus should disappear when we see gender-neutral socialization and social roles. I incorporate contextual factors, such as the country-level gender equality and gender norms, and argue that the effects of gender and family-related factors at the individual-level on psychological well-being are conditional on societal-level factors in each country. I hypothesize that gender differences in psychological well-being are smaller in countries with greater gender equality and more egalitarian gender norms. Utilizing data from the 2002 International Social Survey Program and multi-level modeling, I investigate how the contextual factors impact the effects of marriage, employment, and parenthood on psychological well-being for men and women. The results show that gender differences in mental health remain, though it is not as simple as women experiencing lower psychological well-being than men. Women show lower psychological well-being that is related to the extent of family responsibility, and caring roles are negatively associated with women’s psychological well-being more than men’s. Meanwhile, men indicate more stress with work responsibility, and provider roles have more impacts on males than females. I interpret these results to mean that the gendered socialization and gender roles still have strong influences on mental health and these are gender specific. In addition, more significant effects of the country-level variables--both direct and cross-level-- are found for the female sample, and the effects of gender equality and egalitarian gender norms on women’s psychological well-being are mixed. In other words, women in more egalitarian countries are not necessarily better in mental health than those in more traditional countries. These results suggest the polarization of women’s gender role preferences and work orientations, implying that women are more heterogeneous than men not only within country but also between countries

Gender differences in the mental health impact of the COVID-19 lockdown:Longitudinal evidence from the Netherlands

Recent contributions highlighted gender differences in the mental health consequences of COVID-19 lockdowns. However, their cross-sectional designs cannot differentiate between pre-existing gender differences and differences induced by lockdowns. Estimating fixed-effects models using longitudinal data from the Lifelines biobank and cohort study with repeated mental health measurements throughout the lockdown, we overcome this caveat. Significant gender differences in mental health during the lockdown were found, where women experienced more depression symptoms and disorders and men experienced more anxiety symptoms and disorders stemming from the lockdown. Policymakers need to keep in mind that the COVID-19 lockdowns have different effects on mental health for men and women

Gender Differences in Mental Health Responses of Health Workers During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic caused great stress, especially for health workers which resulted in moderate or severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and more serious stress. Gender is very influential, given the differences in biological and social roles between men and women. Gender differences between men and women allow for variations in strategies in responding to mental health to increase awareness and self-management, so as to avoid mental health problems during the Covid-19 pandemic.Subjects and Method: Meta-analysis was performed by searching articles from Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Springer Link, and health-related databases. The keywords used in the article search were "health workers" AND "covid-19" AND "mental health". The inclusion of the criteria in this study is a full-text article, from 2019-2021, with a study design cross-sectional. The article analysis was carried out using RevMan 5.3. Results: There were 5 articles analyzed, the results showed no significant difference between gender and mental health responses among health workers during the Covid-19 pandemic (aOR= 1.12; 95% CI= 0.59-2.13; p=0.01).Conclusion: Not significant between primary studies regarding gender differences in mental health responses to health workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Keywords: health workers, covid-19, mental healthCorrespondence: Riyesti Hero Fresna, Purwantoro Special Edu­cational School. Wonogiri Regency, Central Java 57695. E-mail: riyestiherofresna01@g­mail.com. Mobile +628­1227831443.Journal of Health Policy and Management (2021), 06(02): 130-138https://doi.org/10.26911/thejhpm.2021.06.02.0

Gender differences in mental health needs and recidivism in a sample of adolescent offenders

Study sample includes male and female court-referred youths in Thunder Bay, Northwestern Ontario.The present study investigated gender differences in mental health needs and correlates of recidivism in a sample of court-referred youths in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Archival data, consisting of mental health assessments used to assist dispositional proceedings and recidivism data collected from 1996 to 2000, was examined in an exploratory fashion that was aided, in part, by prior empirical literature and relevant theoretical constructs. The analyses of historical information and behaviour checklists suggest that gender-specific mental health needs do exist in adolescents committing crimes. Female youths were reported as experiencing more internalizing and externalizing problems than the males. In addition, significantly more of the females were exposed to maltreatment, compared to the male youths. Although overall survival distributions of recidivism did not differ significantly by gender, there were differences in the risk factors for recidivism for male and female youths. It was found that poor mother-child relationship, poor parental management and substance abuse problems significantly influenced recidivism in males, while internalizing problems influenced female recidivism. While limitations of the current study are acknowledged, the findings, to some extent, reconcile some of the discrepancies and ambiguities in the literature. Important directions for future research are also discussed