Changes in Depressive Symptoms, Physical Symptoms, and Sleep-Wake Problems From Before to During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Emerging Adults: Inequalities by Gender, Socioeconomic Position, and Race

Abstract

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emerging adults is of global concern. We examine changes in depressive symptoms, physical symptoms, and sleep-wake problems from before to during the pandemic among college students and examine inequalities by gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and race ( N = 263, 52% Black, 48% White, and 53% female). As compared to pre-pandemic levels, increases were evident in depressive symptoms, physical symptoms, and sleep problems. Females had greater increases than males in depressive symptoms, sleep problems, and physical symptoms. Students from disadvantaged SES backgrounds had greater increases in physical symptoms. Among White students, those from disadvantaged backgrounds also had greater increases in sleep problems. Last, daytime sleepiness increased more among Black male than White male students. Overall, findings suggest notable shifts in sleep and health during the early phase of the pandemic among emerging adults, and that attention to inequality by gender, SES, and race is warranted.

Factors associated with depressive symptomatology during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico: A 2021 national survey

“…It is also worth mentioning that some of the variables included in our study have been shown to be associated with a longitudinal increase in depression before and during the pandemic. In particular, some data suggest that being female ( Fuller-Rowell et al, 2021 ; Seens et al, 2021 ; but Ausín et al, 2021 ) and having experienced a greater number of stressors ( Leach et al, 2021 ) are related to a greater increase in depressive symptomatology.…”

The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Parenting of Infants: A Couples Study

“…Their lower level of readiness to accept negative emotions in their partners, caused by a higher level of stress and an uncertain situation, could cause general frustration, including frustration directed at their child’s crying. During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 30% of adults reported clinically meaningful symptoms of anxiety and depression [ 38 , 39 ], which may lead to more harsh behaviors toward one’s own children. Nevertheless, the frustration towards crying is an irritation and blaming the baby for the situation is a parent-oriented reaction.…”

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on socially marginalised women: Material and mental health outcomes

“…In other words, adopting such a perspective helps to avoid homogenising the impacts of disasters and the needs of those affected by them and instead allows for a deeper understanding of the ways that certain factors interact with each other to result in differentiated outcomes. For example, rather than viewing women as vulnerable upon the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic simply because they are women, researchers have taken a closer look at the ways that socioeconomic status [ 11 , 12 ], housing circumstances [ 13 , 14 ], ethnicity [ 15 , 16 ], and migration status [ 17 ] interact with gender to influence situational vulnerability and susceptibility to negative outcomes. According to Ref.…”

“…Other researchers, such as [ 11 ]; have emphasised the role that socioeconomic status has in exacerbating critical outcomes for women, both in terms of coping and in terms of overall mental wellbeing, noting that it can increase psychosocial stress and financial insecurity as a result of the pandemic due to low or lack of financial reserves. Similarly [ 12 ], have noted how, when socioeconomic status is accounted for, an increase in sleep problems globally can be observed, with women experiencing higher frequencies of sleep problems than men, in addition to higher rates of symptoms of depression. Furthermore [ 27 ], have also advocated for taking socioeconomic status into account when attempting to uncover the underlying factors behind gender disparities in COVID-19-related outcomes.…”