Gender differences in the mental health impact of the COVID-19 lockdown: Longitudinal evidence from the Netherlands

A. Vloo; R.J.M. Alessie; J.O. Mierau; Marike H. Boezen; Jochen O. Mierau; Lude Franke; Jackie Dekens; Patrick Deelen; Pauline Lanting; Judith M. Vonk; Ilja Nolte; Anil P.S. Ori; Annique Claringbould; Floranne Boulogne; Marjolein X.L. Dijkema; Henry H. Wiersma; Robert Warmerdam; Soesma A. Jankipersadsing

SSM: Population Health (Sep 2021)

Gender differences in the mental health impact of the COVID-19 lockdown: Longitudinal evidence from the Netherlands

A. Vloo,
R.J.M. Alessie,
J.O. Mierau,
Marike H. Boezen,
Jochen O. Mierau,
Lude Franke,
Jackie Dekens,
Patrick Deelen,
Pauline Lanting,
Judith M. Vonk,
Ilja Nolte,
Anil P.S. Ori,
Annique Claringbould,
Floranne Boulogne,
Marjolein X.L. Dijkema,
Henry H. Wiersma,
Robert Warmerdam,
Soesma A. Jankipersadsing

Affiliations

A. Vloo: Department of Economics, Econometrics & Finance, Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health, Groningen, the Netherlands
R.J.M. Alessie: Department of Economics, Econometrics & Finance, Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
J.O. Mierau: Department of Economics, Econometrics & Finance, Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health, Groningen, the Netherlands; Corresponding author. Department of Economics, Econometrics & Finance, Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
Marike H. Boezen: Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
Jochen O. Mierau: Department of Economics, Econometrics & Finance, Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health, Groningen, the Netherlands
Lude Franke: Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
Jackie Dekens: Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Center of Development and Innovation, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
Patrick Deelen: Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
Pauline Lanting: Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
Judith M. Vonk: Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
Ilja Nolte: Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
Anil P.S. Ori: Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
Annique Claringbould: Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
Floranne Boulogne: Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
Marjolein X.L. Dijkema: Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
Henry H. Wiersma: Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
Robert Warmerdam: Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
Soesma A. Jankipersadsing: Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15
p. 100878

Abstract

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Recent contributions highlighted gender differences in the mental health consequences of COVID-19 lockdowns. However, their cross-sectional designs cannot differentiate between pre-existing gender differences and differences induced by lockdowns. Estimating fixed-effects models using longitudinal data from the Lifelines biobank and cohort study with repeated mental health measurements throughout the lockdown, we overcome this caveat. Significant gender differences in mental health during the lockdown were found, where women experienced more depression symptoms and disorders and men experienced more anxiety symptoms and disorders stemming from the lockdown. Policymakers need to keep in mind that the COVID-19 lockdowns have different effects on mental health for men and women.

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Published in SSM: Population Health

ISSN: 2352-8273 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Public aspects of medicine; Social Sciences: Social sciences (General)
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/ssm-population-health/

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