Deteriorating mental health affects young people in particular. The WHO-5 score (based on the frequency of positive emotions in the previous two weeks) is 43 out of 100 in 18-34 year-olds compared to 49 in 50- and 47-year-olds and 49 in 35-49-year-olds. -34-year-olds are at risk of depression. School closures and social distance have had a serious negative impact on the mental well-being of young people.
Among women, between summer 2020 and spring 2021, well-being decreased from 51 to 44 and for men from 55 to 47. In the age and gender groups, the weakest mental well-being in spring 2021 was registered in women aged 18–24 and 35–44 (41 in both groups), although the largest decline in mental well-being occurred in 18-year-old men. –24 (54 in summer 2020 and 44 in spring 2021).
In addition, the COVID-19 crisis led to women suffering more than men due to the loss of employment. Eurofound study shows that, due to gender imbalances, women working in low-wage service sectors in different jobs in the economy have experienced the greatest impact on job losses. In addition, with school closures, work and private life problems worsened as people work from home and mothers of young children often suffer the most. The Living, working and the COVID-19 online survey reported that 34% of children with young children (under 12) feel that their work prevents them from giving time to family, while 16% of respondents without children under 17 and 21% of respondents with children aged 12-17 (July 2020 data).
In the July survey, women with children under the age of 12 reported more work-life conflicts than both men with children of the same age and respondents without children or children over the age of 12. This difference is due to the uneven distribution of family responsibilities in the household.
The third round of the unique pan-European survey was conducted in February and March 2021, and the analysis is based on a sample of 46,800 responses and a total of 138,629 samples in all three rounds. It sheds light on the social and economic situation of people across Europe after living within the limits of COVID-19 for almost a whole year.
Source: Eurofund
Source: The Nordic Page