Women's Mental Health in the Time of Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Even if the fatality rate has been twice higher for men than for women, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected women more than men, both as frontline workers and at home. The aim of our article was to analyze the differences observed in mental health and violence between men and women in the COVID outbreak. For this purpose, we have used all papers available in PubMed between January and July 2020 as well as data from non-governmental associations. We have thus successively analyzed the situation of pregnancy during the pandemic; the specific psychological and psychiatric risks faced by women both as patients and as workers in the health sector, the increased risk of violence against women at home and at workplace and, finally the risk run by children within their families. In conclusion, research on the subject of mental health issues during the Covid-19 pandemic is still scarce, especially in women. We hope that this pandemic will help to recognize the major role of women at home and at the workplace.

An investigation of the association between religious coping, fatigue, anxiety and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco: a web-based cross-sectional survey

“…In Morocco, the prevalence of depression and anxiety among women is high compared to men [35,36]. The differential risk of depression and anxiety may stem from biological sex differences, and COVID-19 related factors, such as lockdown, unemployment, and family violence [51,52]. Previous studies have ascertained that violence against women leads to subsequent depression and anxiety [53,54].…”

“…Previous studies have ascertained that violence against women leads to subsequent depression and anxiety [53,54]. Accordingly, the rate of violence toward Moroccan women is estimated at around 54.4% [55], and it is susceptive to rise significantly under pandemic and resultant shutdowns [14,49,52,53,56]. In this regard, it is reasonable to hypothesize that violence against Moroccan women may be one stressor among others that are associated with the higher prevalence of depression and anxiety recorded during the COVID-19 outbreak.…”

Academic Stress and Emotional Well-Being in United States College Students Following Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…These are crucial to investigate, particularly because men and ethnic minorities are more likely to experience negative health outcomes after exposure to COVID-19 (Griffith, 2020), while women and ethnic minorities are more likely to suffer negative occupational and mental health consequences due to the pandemic (Adams-Prassl et al, 2020;Alonzi et al, 2020;NAACP, 2020). These differences are crucial to investigate, particularly, because the initial research suggests that women and ethnic minorities are more likely to suffer adverse changes in their emotional well-being due to the pandemic (Adams-Prassl et al, 2020;Alonzi et al, 2020;Rothman et al, 2020;Smith et al, 2020;Thibaut and van Wijngaarden-Cremers, 2020). For example, using a large, the geographically representative sample of United States adults, Adams-Prassl et al (2020) documented a significant decrease in mental health as a result of initial COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.…”

Social Distancing in the Era of COVID-19: A Call for Maintaining Social Support for the Maternal Population

“…[31][32][33] Critically, the lack of access to protective familial, community, and governmental networks due to social distancing measures may leave women without the social protections needed to flee a dangerous situation, hold their perpetrators accountable, or access the means for them and their children to survive after leaving their homes. 34 This situation is a human rights and health catastrophe since intimate partner violence, historically higher during the perinatal period, is associated with a range of adverse obstetric, maternal, and child outcomes. 35 Given the increase in the number and the impact of the determinants of maternal mental ill health, it is not surprising to see a subsequent rise in the prevalence rates of maternal psychopathology.…”