The study “Gender inequality and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic”, carried out by researcher Patricio Valenzuela from the MIPP Millennium Institute and Florencia Borrescio-Higa, sought to explore gender differences in the deterioration of mental health and psychological well-being due to the pandemic.
To carry out the investigation, the researchers used cross-sectional data from a nationwide large-scale survey “Vida en Pandemia” (Life during pandemic), which has observations from all regions in Chile.
The survey was implemented July 13–17, 2020, through phone calls. The sample size is 2,545 adult respondents, 1,271 of whom identify as female, accounting for 50 percent of the sample.
With those figures, the academics estimated econometric models to explore gender differences in psychological well-being and mental health as well as economic fragility and household workload during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Using that methodology, it was possible to determine that the drop in labor participation -which went from 53% prior to the pandemic to 41% during June 2020- and the deterioration of the labor situation, exposed the financial fragility of women, who presented difficulties in meeting their financial obligations, such as paying bills and meeting their basic needs.
In addition, the report revealed that the reduction of working hours or the abandonment of jobs by women is due to the fact that they had to take care of their children, together with supporting them in their education during the closure of educational establishments.
Due to the above, the research concluded that during the 2020 health crisis there were higher rates of deterioration of mental health and psychological well-being for women, related to unemployment, loss of income and increased housework and childcare.
“Our study findings are consistent with evidence from countries such as the United States, Canada, and England, suggesting a gender difference during the pandemic, with women more likely to report symptoms such as sleep problems, depression, anxiety, stress and post-traumatic stress,” Patricio Valenzuela told Diario Financiero.
Therefore, the MIPP researcher advises that in order to combat this problem, it is necessary to create programs to raise awareness of the importance of the father in the care and education of children.
“The main reason for the inactivity of women is the exclusive dedication to caring for their children and domestic work.”
Patricio Valenzuela
MIPP Chile 2024