The differences in mental health reactions to COVID-19 pandemic between men and women in the general population of Latvia

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health of millions of people around the world. It is known that there is an overall difference between men and women mental reactions to stress. They attempt to manage stress in very different ways and perceive their ability to do so. The aim of this study was to explore the differences in mental health reaction patterns between men and women, residents of Latvia. The analysis was done by obtaining data from online survey conducted as a part of international multi-country study I-SHARE. The survey was carried out as a part of the state research project  focusing on impact of COVID-19 on sexual and reproductive health (VPP-COVID-2020/1-0011) and included 20 questions related to mental health. Data was summarized and analyzed using MS Excel and IBM SPSS 26.0. The results have been defined as statistically significant if p < 0.05. 1170 responses were analyzed: 82.6% women and 17.4% men. Women mostly agree with the statement, which reflects an element of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) compared to men (26.7% N=258 vs. 18.5% N=33), and more rarely have a neutral reaction (15% N=147 vs. 22% N=45) p<0.01. Overall, during COVID-19 pandemic women more often show an element of obsessive-compulsive disorder than men do. Overall women more often agree with a statement which reflects an element of thought disorders (24.6% N=235 vs. 21% N=41), and more rarely have a neutral reaction (20% N=190 vs. 24% N=47). During COVID-19 pandemic women more often reflect an element of thought disorders than men. In developing public health messages related to COVID-19, it is important to ensure focus on both sexes, with a special emphases to women as women are in a higher risk group in relation to obsessive-compulsive disorders and thought disorders.