Mental health inequalities increase as a function of COVID-19 pandemic severity levels. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maffly-Kipp, Joseph; Eisenbeck, Nikolett; Carreno, David F.; Hicks, Joshua
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 285(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: Depression -- Anxiety/anxiety disorders -- Trauma; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114275
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: Rationale: Current evidence suggests that mental health across the globe has suffered significantly during the COVID-19 global pandemic, and that disadvantaged communities are suffering these impacts more acutely. Lower income, female gender, and younger age have all been associated with worse psychopathology during COVID-19. Objective and methods: The goal of this study was to determine whether these disparities are more pronounced in places where the pandemic is more severe. We analyzed self-report data and objective metrics from a large global sample ( N = 11, 227) in order to test the hypothesis that country-level severity of COVID-19 moderates the relationship between the target demographic variables (Subjective SES, gender and age) and psychopathology indicators. Results: Severity of the pandemic emerged as a significant moderator of the relationship between these demographic variables and mental health outcomes. This pattern was extremely consistent for Subjective SES and gender, but slightly more nuanced for age. Conclusion: Overall, we interpreted our data as suggesting that mental health disparities are greater in countries with more severe COVID-19 outbreaks. These findings are critical for understanding the ways that the ongoing pandemic is affecting global mental health, and contribute to the broader literature surrounding collective trauma. Highlights: Are mental health inequalities greater in countries where COVID-19 is more severe? We examined this question in a large global sample ( N = 11, 227). Income, gender and age were all risk factors for worse mental health. Mental health disparities were larger in countries with higher pandemic severity.