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The Impact of the Coronavirus Lockdown on Mental Health: Evidence from the US

Author

Listed:
  • Abi Adams-Prassl

    (University of Oxford)

  • Teodora Boneva

    (University of Zurich)

  • Marta Golin
  • Christopher Rauh

    (University of Montreal)

Abstract

The coronavirus outbreak has caused significant disruptions to people's lives. We document the impact of state-wide stay-at-home orders on mental health using real time survey data in the US. The lockdown measures lowered mental health by 0.085 standard deviations. This large negative effect is entirely driven by women. As a result of the lockdown measures, the existing gender gap in mental health has increased by 66%. The negative effect on women's mental health cannot be explained by an increase in financial worries or childcare responsibilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Abi Adams-Prassl & Teodora Boneva & Marta Golin & Christopher Rauh, 2020. "The Impact of the Coronavirus Lockdown on Mental Health: Evidence from the US," Working Papers 2020-030, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    • Handle: RePEc:hka:wpaper:2020-030
    Note: ECI
    as

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    File URL: http://humcap.uchicago.edu/RePEc/hka/wpaper/Adams-Prassl_Boneva_Golin_etal_2020_impact-coronavirus-mental-health.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Betsey Stevenson & Justin Wolfers, 2009. "The Paradox of Declining Female Happiness," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 1(2), pages 190-225, August.
    2. Adams-Prassl, Abi & Boneva, Teodora & Golin, Marta & Rauh, Christopher, 2020. "Inequality in the impact of the coronavirus shock: Evidence from real time surveys," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    3. Rada K Dagher & Jie Chen & Stephen B Thomas, 2015. "Gender Differences in Mental Health Outcomes before, during, and after the Great Recession," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-16, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    mental health; gender; recessions; coronavirus;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General

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