Gender, care-seeking behavior, and adverse mental health during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden: an exploratory study

Abstract

This exploratory study aimed to examine whether gender and care-seeking behaviors were associated with the frequency of adverse mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the longitudinal Omtanke2020 Study in Sweden (N = 27,562). The study was performed using self-reported data from adult volunteers through online surveys. Descriptive network analysis was used to explore the cross-sectional relationships between gender, care-seeking behavior, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and COVID-19-related distress at baseline as well as 6-month and 12-month follow-ups. Prevalence of adverse mental health symptoms was further compared between individuals with different care-seeking behaviors at the three timepoints using generalized estimating equations. Women reported a higher prevalence of care avoidance and care delay due to COVID-19 as well as adverse mental health symptoms at all timepoints, compared to men. However, avoidance of care and delayed care due to COVID-19 were associated with a higher prevalence of adverse mental health symptoms among both men and women. The results highlight the need for further research into gender differences in care-seeking behavior and the interaction of gender and care-seeking on mental health. Finally, our study underlines the need for gender-sensitive interventions to encourage and facilitate appropriate care-seeking behaviors.

Keywords: COVID-19; Care-seeking; Gender; Mental health; Omtanke2020; Sweden.