COVID-19 and its impact on mental health as a function of gender, age, and income

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of people from different socioeconomic classes. This has been done by creating an anxiety score, based on responses to a set of questions that were asked as part of a two-round telephonic survey done by Young Lives Data for India. Using this index, anxiety levels have been classified as high, medium, and low. As the dependent variable has an ordered nature, an ordered logit model has been used for regression. According to the results, job loss, death of the family’s earning member or mishap in the family, and price increases all contributed to increased anxiety. The analysis indicates that anxiety levels among women were higher than among men because of the increased burden of household chores and childcare responsibilities. Also, anxiety levels were higher among those who perceived themselves as rich or poor as opposed to those who were comfortable in their income group. There was a higher anxiety level among the rich due to income loss and increased household responsibilities. A high percentage of children and elders reported feeling anxious; school closures and a lack of social interaction caused stress. Isolation also plagued the elderly. Furthermore, many students couldn’t avail online learning opportunities due to a lack of resources. The government implemented many policies to mitigate these issues, which included those to mitigate the immediate hunger problem.