A new study shows that COVID-19 restrictions have different effects on women’s mental health, depending on their social class.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected women in different ways, and a new study shows that their socio-economic status is a factor to consider.
Wealthy women tend to get depressed, whereas women from a low socio-economic class are feeling more uncertain, and middle-class women seem to be drinking more alcohol than women from other socio-economic groups.
These were the key findings of a new study, led by Dr Belinda Lunnay, from Flinders University’s College of Medicine and Public Health, who surveyed nearly 800 Australian women throughout 2020.
“Our results highlight how differently diverse groups of middle-aged women reacted to COVID-19,” says Dr Lunnay said in a press release.
“The depression, fear and anxiety felt by more affluent women could likely be the result of fearing the loss of income, as well as the loss of social networking opportunities, which reduced their opportunity to retain or build upon their existing social standing,” she added.
About the study
The new research surveyed middle-aged women (45-64 years old) in May and July 2020, including participants from different socio-economic classes. Participants were assigned to different social classes, according to different factors. “We used a multi-dimensional model for measuring social class across three domains—economic capital (income, property and assets), social capital (social contacts and occupational prestige of those known socially), and cultural capital (level of participation in various cultural activities),” the authors wrote.
The survey asked women about their emotions and drinking habits during the pandemic and their results shows clear differences in responses according to women’s social class.
For example, women from an “emerging affluent” class, with high economic and cultural capital and moderate social capital reported the highest levels of fearfulness and anxiety. Women considered as “established affluent”, those with the highest levels of all forms of capital, reported the highest levels of depression. In contrast, “working class” women, those with the less capital, reported the highest levels of uncertainty.
“It is unsurprising that women living in difficult circumstances before the pandemic experienced uncertainty during COVID-19, given low wage work is often precarious with little to no job security and this was pronounced during the pandemic,” Dr Lunnay said.
“This group also typically has limited access to social supports and might account for this group experiencing the highest level of uncertainty across the women surveyed,” she added.
Finally, when it comes to alcohol consumption, the study found that women with high social capital but low-moderate income (economic capital) reported drinking more than any other group of women.
“From our previous research we know women drink to cope with stress and isolation and our survey once again demonstrates this as the pandemic has increased the magnitude of stress in women’s lives,” Dr Lunnay said.
However, Dr Lunnay noted that not everyone reacted to the pandemic in the same way. Some of the participants did not increased their drinking, despite reporting increased negative emotions such as depression and uncertainty.
The results of this study provide important insights to understand how lockdown measures affect women’s emotions, which can help identify social groups in need of help.
“We need to understand these differences in order to inform future policy responses and ensure public health messages that discourage problematic drinking are targeted to the differing needs of these women.”