The disparate impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of female and male caregivers

Mark Wade; Heather Prime; Dylan Johnson; Shealyn S May; Jennifer M Jenkins; Dillon T Browne

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113801

The disparate impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of female and male caregivers

Soc Sci Med. 2021 Apr:275:113801. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113801. Epub 2021 Feb 24.

Authors

Mark Wade¹, Heather Prime², Dylan Johnson³, Shealyn S May⁴, Jennifer M Jenkins³, Dillon T Browne⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. Electronic address: m.wade@utoronto.ca.
² Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
³ Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ Centre for Mental Health Research and Treatment, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.

Abstract

Caregiver mental health is crucial to the wellbeing of children. This is most apparent when caregivers face high levels of stress or life adversity. To study this phenomenon in the current global context, this study examined the relation between stress/disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic and the mental health of female and male caregivers. Pre-pandemic childhood adversity was considered as a moderator of this association. A multi-national sample (United Kingdom, 76%; United States, 19%; Canada, 4%, and Australia, 1%) was recruited in May 2020, of whom 348 female and 143 male caregivers of 5-18 year-old children provided data on the constructs of interest. At this time, caregivers reported on their history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and COVID stress/disruption. About two months later (July 2020) caregiver mental health was evaluated. We examined differences between female and male caregivers on ACEs, COVID stress/disruption, and mental health (distress, anxiety, substance use, and posttraumatic stress). Main and interactive effects of ACEs and COVID stress/disruption on each mental health outcome were examined. Female caregivers reported higher COVID stress/disruption, more ACEs, and greater distress, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms compared to male caregivers. Among female caregivers, higher COVID stress/disruption and more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) independently predicted all mental health outcomes, consistent with a stress accumulation model. Among male caregivers, a pattern of interactions between COVID stress/disruption and ACEs suggested that the effects of COVID stress/disruption on mental health was stronger for those with higher ACEs, especially for substance use, consistent with a stress sensitization model. Higher levels of stress and mental health difficulties among female caregivers suggests a disproportionate burden due to pandemic-related disruption compared to male caregivers. Findings speak to the disparate effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of female compared to male caregivers, and the role of pre-existing vulnerabilities in shaping current adaptation.

Keywords: ACEs; COVID-19; Caregivers; Early adversity; Mental health; Pandemic.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Australia / epidemiology
COVID-19*
Canada
Caregivers*
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Male
Mental Health*
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2
United Kingdom / epidemiology
United States