TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2022//
TI  - The role of psychosocial factors in explaining sex differences in major depression and generalized anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic
JO  - BMC public health
A1  - Vallières, Frédérique
A1  - Murphy, Jamie
A1  - McBride, Orla
A1  - Shevlin, Mark
A1  - Gilmore, Brynne
A1  - Travers, Áine
A1  - Nolan, Ann
A1  - Butter, Sarah
A1  - Karatzias, Thanos
A1  - Bentall, Richard
A1  - Hyland, Philip
SP  - e1563
EP  - e1563
VL  - 22
IS  - 1
N2  - BACKGROUND: Understanding how pandemics differentially impact on the socio-protective and psychological outcomes of males and females is important to develop more equitable public health policies. We assessed whether males and females differed on measures of major depression and generalized anxiety during the COVID-19 the pandemic, and if so, which sociodemographic, pandemic, and psychological variables may affect sex differences in depression and anxiety. <br><br>METHODS: Participants were a nationally representative sample of Irish adults (N = 1,032) assessed between April 30(th) to May 19(th), 2020, during Ireland's first COVID-19 nationwide quarantine. Participants completed self-report measures of anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9), as well as 23 sociodemographic pandemic-related, and psychological variables. Sex differences on measures of depression and anxiety were assessed using binary logistic regression analysis and differences in sociodemographic, pandemic, and psychological variables assessed using chi-square tests of independence and independent samples t-tests. <br><br>RESULTS: Females were significantly more likely than males to screen positive for major depressive disorder (30.6% vs. 20.7%; χ(2) (1) = 13.26, p < .001, OR = 1.69 [95% CI = 1.27, 2.25]), and generalised anxiety disorder (23.3% vs. 14.4%; χ(2) (1) = 13.42, p < .001, OR = 1.81 [95% CI = 1.31, 2.49]). When adjusted for all other sex-varying covariates however, sex was no longer significantly associated with screening positive for depression (AOR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.51, 1.25) or GAD (AOR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.60, 1.57). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Observed sex-differences in depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland are best explained by psychosocial factors of COVID-19 related anxiety, trait neuroticism, lower sleep quality, higher levels of loneliness, greater somatic problems, and, in the case of depression, increases in childcaring responsibilities and lower trait consciousnesses. Implications of these findings for public health policy and interventions are discussed.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1471-2458
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13954-8
ID  - ref1
ER  -