Study Reveals COVID-19 Pandemic Had Greater Negative Effects on Women's Health than Men's

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionately adverse impact on women's health, affecting both their mental well-being and physical health behaviors more significantly than men, according to recent research conducted by the University of Aberdeen. The study, published in Social Science & Medicine, looked into how the pandemic altered health behaviors such as diet, alcohol consumption, and physical activity, as well as mental health indicators, across genders.

Led by Professor Paul McNamee, along with collaborators from Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore and the University of Turin, the research analyzed data from the Understanding Society survey collected between January 2015 and March 2023. This extensive analysis aimed to understand whether the pandemic's effects varied between women and men.

Findings indicated that women experienced more negative changes during this period. They reported consuming fewer fruits and vegetables and showed smaller reductions in alcohol intake compared to men. Additionally, psychological distress increased for both genders, but women faced a greater rise. Importantly, the usual beneficial relationship between healthy behaviors and mental health was weakened for women during the pandemic, meaning engaging in healthier lifestyles no longer had the same protective effect.

While these health-behavior and mental health issues persisted for women into 2023, they remained relatively stable for men, suggesting that the pandemic exacerbated existing vulnerabilities for women. Experts suggest that the increased stress, financial pressures, caregiving responsibilities, and social restrictions during the pandemic disproportionately burdened women, especially those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Professor McNamee emphasized the importance of targeted interventions, such as social prescribing, which can support women in maintaining healthier behaviors, especially during times of crisis. The research highlights the need for ongoing monitoring and tailored policies to mitigate these gendered disparities and support women's overall health.

This comprehensive study underscores the deep and lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women's health and calls for strategic public health responses to address these inequalities.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-covid-pandemic-bigger-impact-women.html