New Delhi: A new study has found that women experienced more severe mental and physical health challenges than men during the Covid-19 pandemic. Published in the journal Social Science and Medicine, the research highlights how the pandemic deepened gender-based health inequalities, particularly in mental well-being and lifestyle habits.
Researchers from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland analyzed national health data from January 2015 to March 2023 to understand the long-term effects of the pandemic. Their findings show that psychological distress rose for both men and women during the pandemic—but the increase was significantly greater for women.
The study also revealed that the connection between healthy lifestyle habits and mental health, which was strong for women before the pandemic, weakened during the crisis. In contrast, for men, the protective effect of healthy behaviors remained stable—or even became stronger.
“Women reported more negative changes in health behaviors than men during the pandemic,” said Professor Paul McNamee, who led the research. “For instance, women consumed fruit on fewer days and showed smaller reductions in alcohol intake compared to men. These patterns suggest that the pandemic disrupted women’s health routines more severely.”
The research indicates that women’s reduced ability to maintain healthy habits during a time of heightened stress may be tied to financial pressures and increased caregiving responsibilities—particularly among those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. These factors also made it more difficult for women to stay socially engaged or access mental health support.
Dr. Karen Arulsamy from Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, who also contributed to the study, emphasized the long-term impact: “The negative changes in women's health behaviors have continued through May 2023. This suggests that the pandemic’s effects on women’s health are not just temporary but could have lasting consequences.”
The researchers stress the need for targeted public health interventions that address gender-specific challenges. Support systems should especially focus on women who face additional stress due to financial hardship or caregiving demands.
This study sheds light on how large-scale crises like a pandemic can deepen existing health inequalities and why it's crucial to tailor health policies to protect vulnerable populations—particularly women.