Gender Differences in Mental Health Symptoms Among Canadian Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Cross-Sectional Survey

doi:10.5770/cgj.25.532

. 2022 Mar 2;25(1):49-56.

doi: 10.5770/cgj.25.532. eCollection 2022 Mar.

Gender Differences in Mental Health Symptoms Among Canadian Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Cross-Sectional Survey

Christina Reppas-Rindlisbacher^{1

2}, Alyson Mahar^{3

4}, Shailee Siddhpuria⁵, Rachel Savage^{2

4}, Julie Hallet⁶, Paula Rochon^{2

4}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
² Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON.
³ Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB.
⁴ Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
⁵ Department of Undergraduate Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
⁶ Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

PMID: 35310469
PMCID: PMC8887702
DOI: 10.5770/cgj.25.532

Gender Differences in Mental Health Symptoms Among Canadian Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Cross-Sectional Survey

Christina Reppas-Rindlisbacher et al. Can Geriatr J. 2022.

. 2022 Mar 2;25(1):49-56.

doi: 10.5770/cgj.25.532. eCollection 2022 Mar.

Authors

Christina Reppas-Rindlisbacher^{1

2}, Alyson Mahar^{3

4}, Shailee Siddhpuria⁵, Rachel Savage^{2

4}, Julie Hallet⁶, Paula Rochon^{2

4}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
² Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON.
³ Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB.
⁴ Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
⁵ Department of Undergraduate Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
⁶ Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

PMID: 35310469
PMCID: PMC8887702
DOI: 10.5770/cgj.25.532

Abstract

Background: Older women's mental health may be disproportionally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to differences in gender roles and living circumstances associating with aging.

Methods: We administered an online cross-sectional nationwide survey between May 1st and June 30th, 2020 to a convenience sample of older adults aged ≥55 years. Our outcomes were symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness measured by three standardized scales: the eight-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, the five-item Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Three-Item Loneliness Scale. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare the odds of depression, anxiety and loneliness between men and women, adjusting for relevant confounders.

Results: There were 1,541 respondents (67.8% women, mean age 69.3 ± 7.8). 23.3% reported symptoms of depression (29.4% women, 17.0% men), 23.2% reported symptoms of anxiety (26.0% women, 19.0% men), and 28.0% were lonely (31.5% women, 20.9% men). After adjustment for confounders, the odds of reporting depressive symptoms were 2.07 times higher in women compared to men (OR 2.07 [95%CI 1.50-2.87] p < .0001). The odds of reporting anxiety and loneliness were also higher.

Conclusions: Older women had twice the odds of reporting depressive symptoms compared to men, an important mental health need that should be considered as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds.

Keywords: COVID-19; cross-sectional survey; gender roles; mental health; older adults; women’s health.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURES We have read and understood the Canadian Geriatrics Journal’s policy on conflicts of interest disclosure and declare the following interests: Dr Paula Rochon holds the RTOERO Chair in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Toronto.

Figures

**FIGURE 1**
Study recruitment flow chart

**FIGURE 2**
COVID-related concerns and experiences

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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[1] Onder G, Rezza G, Brusaferro S. Case-fatality rate and characteristics of patients dying in relation to COVID-19 in Italy. JAMA. 2020;323(18):1725–76. - PubMed

[2] Onder G, Rezza G, Brusaferro S. Case-fatality rate and characteristics of patients dying in relation to COVID-19 in Italy. JAMA. 2020;323(18):1725–76. - PubMed

[3] Zhou F, Yu T, Du R, et al. Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet. 2020;395(10229):1054–62. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30566-3. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Zhou F, Yu T, Du R, et al. Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet. 2020;395(10229):1054–62. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30566-3. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Yanez ND, Weiss NS, Romand JA, Treggiari MM. COVID-19 mortality risk for older men and women. BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):1742. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-09826-8. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[6] Yanez ND, Weiss NS, Romand JA, Treggiari MM. COVID-19 mortality risk for older men and women. BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):1742. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-09826-8. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[7] Armitage R, Nellums LB. COVID-19 and the consequences of isolating the elderly. Lancet Public Health. 2020;5(5):e256. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(20)30061-X. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[8] Armitage R, Nellums LB. COVID-19 and the consequences of isolating the elderly. Lancet Public Health. 2020;5(5):e256. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(20)30061-X. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[9] Hawryluck L, Gold WL, Robinson S, Pogorski S, Galea S, Styra R. SARS control and psychological effects of quarantine, Toronto, Canada. Emerg Infect Dis. 2004;10(7):1206–12. doi: 10.3201/eid1007.030703. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] Hawryluck L, Gold WL, Robinson S, Pogorski S, Galea S, Styra R. SARS control and psychological effects of quarantine, Toronto, Canada. Emerg Infect Dis. 2004;10(7):1206–12. doi: 10.3201/eid1007.030703. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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Gender Differences in Mental Health Symptoms Among Canadian Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Cross-Sectional Survey

Affiliations

Gender Differences in Mental Health Symptoms Among Canadian Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Cross-Sectional Survey

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Affiliations

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Conflict of interest statement

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