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Factors Related to Women’s Psychological Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from a Two-Wave Longitudinal Study

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Di Blasi

    (Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy)

  • Gaia Albano

    (Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy)

  • Giulia Bassi

    (Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, 35132 Padova, Italy
    Digital Health Lab, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, 38122 Trento, Italy)

  • Elisa Mancinelli

    (Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, 35132 Padova, Italy
    Digital Health Lab, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, 38122 Trento, Italy)

  • Cecilia Giordano

    (Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy)

  • Claudia Mazzeschi

    (Department of Philosophy, Social & Human Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy)

  • Chiara Pazzagli

    (Department of Philosophy, Social & Human Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy)

  • Silvia Salcuni

    (Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, 35132 Padova, Italy)

  • Gianluca Lo Coco

    (Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy)

  • Omar Carlo Gioacchino Gelo

    (Department of History, Society and Human Studies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
    Faculty of Psychotherapy Science, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, 1020 Vienna, Austria)

  • Gloria Lagetto

    (Department of History, Society and Human Studies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Maria Francesca Freda

    (Department of Humanities, University of Napoli Federico II, 80133 Napoli, Italy)

  • Giovanna Esposito

    (Department of Humanities, University of Napoli Federico II, 80133 Napoli, Italy)

  • Barbara Caci

    (Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy)

  • Aluette Merenda

    (Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy)

  • Laura Salerno

    (Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy)

Abstract

Background. A growing body of research has highlighted the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s mental health. Previous studies showed that women have higher levels of depression, anxiety and PTSD, and worse psychological adjustment than men, which also persisted after the earlier phase of the pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate changes in women’s psychological distress during the pandemic and to evaluate the factors that have a more significant impact in predicting women’s psychological distress. Methods. This two-wave longitudinal study (T1 = Italian first lockdown, and T2 = second phase, when the restrictive measures were eased) involved 893 women (M age = 36.45, SD = 14.48). Participants provided demographic and health data as well as measures of psychological distress, emotion regulation processes, and ability to tolerate uncertainty. Results. No significant changes were found in women’s psychological distress between T1 and T2, i.e., during and after the first lockdown. Lower social stability status and higher maladaptive emotional coping predicted high psychological distress. Conclusions. Results showed that modifiable psychological variables play a central role in predicting distress and indicated that emotion regulation interventions might be helpful in increasing psychological resilience and mitigating the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic within the female population.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Di Blasi & Gaia Albano & Giulia Bassi & Elisa Mancinelli & Cecilia Giordano & Claudia Mazzeschi & Chiara Pazzagli & Silvia Salcuni & Gianluca Lo Coco & Omar Carlo Gioacchino Gelo & Gloria Lagett, 2021. "Factors Related to Women’s Psychological Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from a Two-Wave Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-12, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11656-:d:673490
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mateusz Kowalczyk & Michał Seweryn Karbownik & Edward Kowalczyk & Monika Sienkiewicz & Monika Talarowska, 2021. "Mental Health of PhD Students at Polish Universities—Before the COVID-19 Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-9, November.

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