Women suffered more than men from COVID-19 isolation

A study by University of Calgary researchers with the Hotchkiss Brain Institute examining gender and gender differences in sleep, empathy and mood during months of loneliness as a result of COVID-19 has found that women who More men suffer from worse sleep and more anxiety, depression and trauma, while also feeling more empathetic than men.

The results published in Boundaries in Global Women’s Health one of the first studies to look at changes in mood and sleep quality during the pandemic. Dr. Veronica Guadagni, PhD, led an online study of Canadians between March 23 and June 7 this year. During this time, schools and many businesses were closed, and people stayed home as much as possible as part of a common lock to prevent the virus.

The researchers analyzed data from 573 participants, 112 men and 459 women with an average age of 25.9 years. More than 66 percent of volunteer participants reported poor sleep quality, more than 39 percent reported more symptoms of insomnia, and anxiety and distress increased in the entire sample. Symptoms of sleep, depression and anxiety were more common in women.

Overall, the study found women reporting increased anxiety and depression. Their symptoms worsened over time and over time. There was a progressive increase in anxiety, depression, poor sleep quality and trauma for both men and women. But it was bigger for the women over time. “

Dr. Veronica Guadagni, Postdoctoral Scholar, School of Cumming Medicine (CSM)

The study also found that women reported higher scores on a scale measuring empathy, the ability to understand other people’s feelings and care for others. But greater empathy was associated with more anxiety, depression and trauma. The authors argue that women are more anxious and anxious about being a caregiver reflecting differences in gender roles and routines.

“I was not surprised by the findings; women are the ones carrying the extra load,” said Dr. Giuseppe Iaria, PhD, the study’s senior examiner. “Taking care of family and emergency situations has been a major concern for both women and girls.”

When it comes to feeling for others, the higher scores for women on a sympathetic scale may mean that they are more likely to follow public health guidelines, such as washing hands, socializing and wearing a mask. “If we see that higher empathy is linked to prosocial behavior we might expect that those who care more about others would have more respect for the rules. Studies should in the future to test this particular idea, “Guadagni said.

The researchers could not find pre-pandemic sleep issues or anxiety from the participant’s data. “We don’t know what the interplay was between sleep, mental health and empathy before these participants had loneliness,” says Iaria. He hopes the study will provide “some insight” into the public’s perception that some are suffering more than others, leading to some recognition and accommodation for women from their partners, employers. and institutions.

The researchers suggest that gender and gender differences may play a role in psychological and behavioral reactions to the pandemic. And, they say, these differences need to be considered in the design of targeted psychological interventions.