Gender Differences in the Impact of COVID-19 on Depression in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Gutierrez Sirena, Wong Rebeca, Milani Sadaf
Primary Institution: University of California, San Francisco
Hypothesis
Does the association between experiencing hardship and depressive symptoms vary by gender among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Conclusion
Women in Mexico reported greater depressive symptoms associated with hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to men.
Supporting Evidence
- Older women reported more depressive symptoms than men.
- Both pandemic-related and non-pandemic hardships were linked to increased depressive symptoms.
- The impact of hardships was stronger for women than for men.
Takeaway
This study found that older women in Mexico feel sadder than older men when they face tough times during the pandemic.
Methodology
The study used data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study and analyzed depressive symptoms in relation to reported hardships.
Participant Demographics
Participants averaged 63.7 years, with 56.3% being women.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.042
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 0.30, 0.46 for non-pandemic hardship; 95% CI: 0.31, 0.56 for pandemic-related hardship
Statistical Significance
p=0.042
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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