Gender perspective of psychological discomfort during COVID-19 confinement among Spanish adult population: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 disease has affected more than a hundred countries worldwide and has exposed the population to an increase in mental health problems. The objective of this study was to assess the emotional impact of the pandemic from a gender perspective, as well as to study the modulating variables of that impact. DESIGN: A descriptive and cross-sectional study through the General Health Questionnaire scale and the Sense of Coherence (SOC) scale is developed. SETTING: General population of Spain was the target of this study PARTICIPANTS: The sample consisted of 3801 adult subjects living in Spain, without diagnosis for Sars-Cov-2 virus infection during confinement. INTERVENTION: Data collection was carried out using an online questionnaire, from 26 March 2020 to 26 April 2020. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES MEASURES: A sample profile description was obtained, regarding to the study variables. Later, a regression model was implemented in order to test the relationship between these variables, and to achieve a predictive model of psychological discomfort controlling the gender variable. RESULTS: The results showed that women, as compared with men, had increased psychological discomfort during confinement (t=−12.877; p<0.001; d=0.470). In contrast, significantly higher scores were observed on the SOC scale (t=6.336; p<0.001; d=0.231) in men, as compared with those obtained by women. CONCLUSIONS: Women have higher levels of psychological discomfort, increased concern about getting infected with COVID-19 and infecting others, as well as a lower level of SOC and perceived health. In addition, low levels of SOC predict greater concern about contagion and increased psychological discomfort.