Covid-19 isolation ‘hits women harder’

WOMEN have suffered more than men during the months of isolation brought about by Covid-19, experiencing poorer sleep and more anxiety, depression and trauma, while also feeling more empathetic than men, says a new study.

The findings, published in Frontiers in Global Women's Health, suggest sex and gender differences may play a role in psychological and behavioural reactions to the pandemic.

These differences need to be considered in planning targeted psychological interventions, the researchers said.

For the study, the researchers examined data from 573 participants, 112 men and 459 women with a mean age of 25.9 years, in Canada.

At the time of the online survey, schools and many businesses were closed, and people stayed home as much as possible as part of a general lockdown to prevent transmission of the virus.

More than 66% of the volunteer participants reported poor quality of sleep, more than 39% reported increased symptoms of insomnia, and anxiety and distress were increased in the whole sample.

Sleep, depression and anxiety symptoms were more prevalent in women, said the study.

“Generally, the study found women reporting more anxiety and depression,” said lead researcher Veronica Guadagni of the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM), University of Calgary, Canada.

“Their symptoms worsened over time and with greater length of the isolation period. There was a progressive increase in anxiety, depression, poor sleep quality and trauma for males and females. But it was greater for females over time.”

The study also found that women reported higher scores on a scale measuring empathy, the ability to understand the emotions of others and to care for others.

The greater empathy was, however, associated with greater anxiety, depression and trauma.

The authors speculate that women's greater concern and anxiety as caregivers reflects differences in gender roles and norms.