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COVID-19-Related Financial Hardship, Job Loss, and Mental Health Symptoms: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in a Rural Agrarian Community in India

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  • Sangeeta Chatterji

    (Center on Gender Equity and Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA)

  • Lotus McDougal

    (Center on Gender Equity and Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA)

  • Nicole Johns

    (Center on Gender Equity and Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA)

  • Mohan Ghule

    (Center on Gender Equity and Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA)

  • Namratha Rao

    (Center on Gender Equity and Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA)

  • Anita Raj

    (Center on Gender Equity and Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA)

Abstract

Several countries, including India, imposed mandatory social distancing, quarantine, and lockdowns to stop the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Although these measures were effective in curbing the spread of the virus, prolonged social distancing, quarantine, and the resultant economic disruption led to an increase in financial stress and mental health concerns. Prior studies established a link between the first lockdown and an increase in mental health issues. However, few studies investigated the association between post-lockdown financial hardship, job loss, and mental health. In this study, we examined the association between COVID-19-related financial hardship, job loss, and mental health symptoms approximately nine months after the end of the first nationwide lockdown in India. Job loss was associated with higher reporting of mental health symptoms among men (aIRR = 1.16) while financial hardship was associated with poor mental health symptoms among women (aIRR = 1.29). Conversely, social support and government aid were associated with better mental health symptoms among women. Our findings highlight the need for financial assistance and job creation programs to aid families in the recovery process. There is also an urgent need for improving the availability and affordability of mental health services in rural areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Sangeeta Chatterji & Lotus McDougal & Nicole Johns & Mohan Ghule & Namratha Rao & Anita Raj, 2021. "COVID-19-Related Financial Hardship, Job Loss, and Mental Health Symptoms: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in a Rural Agrarian Community in India," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8647-:d:615294
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gaia Sampogna & Maurizio Pompili & Andrea Fiorillo, 2021. "Mental Health in the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Worldwide Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-5, December.
    2. Ilaria Cataldo & Dora Novotny & Alessandro Carollo & Gianluca Esposito, 2023. "Mental Health in the Post-Lockdown Scenario: A Scientometric Investigation of the Main Thematic Trends of Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(13), pages 1-21, July.
    3. JungHo Park & Sujin Kim, 2023. "Child Tax Credit, Spending Patterns, and Mental Health: Mediation Analyses of Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-17, March.
    4. Mehta, Poonam & Garg, Naval & Gharib, Moaz & Mehak, & Pimpunchat, Busayamas, 2023. "Social support during COVID-19: Exploring the psychometric properties of the PSS-JSAS and its relationship with job search activities," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).

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