Summary: Researchers examined how stressors from the COVID-19 pandemic affected mental health, uncovering clear gender-specific patterns.
During the first year of the pandemic, men’s anxiety was more strongly linked to job-related concerns, while women’s anxiety rose with worries about family and friends. Support from friends and family improved quality of life for women but showed no clear benefit for men. The study highlights the importance of addressing social factors and gender differences when planning mental health interventions.
Key Facts:
- Gender-specific triggers of anxiety emerged: men’s anxiety correlated with work-related concerns, whereas women’s anxiety correlated with concerns about family and friends.
- Social support from friends and family was associated with better quality of life in women; the same association was not found for men.
- The findings emphasize the need to include gender-sensitive and social aspects in therapeutic approaches to improve mental health.
Source: University of Würzburg
Do you remember the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020? Shops, restaurants, theaters and cinemas closed; meetings with friends and family were restricted; schools shifted to remote learning; travel was largely halted. While many people have moved on, the social restrictions and uncertainties of that period produced significant stress for large segments of the population.
Fears about job security, worry over sick relatives, and the pressure of balancing home working with childcare and homeschooling in confined living spaces created substantial emotional strain. Numerous studies have documented lasting effects on mental health, and the University of Würzburg team sought to explore how these pandemic-related stressors affected women and men differently.
Anxiety as the central factor
The research focused on how personal and work-related worries related to mental health problems—specifically anxiety and depression—and to overall health-related quality of life (HRQL). The investigators also examined how perceived support from friends, family and colleagues influenced these relationships and whether these patterns differed by gender. The results showed that anxiety sits at the center of these interactions.
Distinct gender differences emerged: in men, higher anxiety levels were closely associated with concerns about work and job security, while in women anxiety increased with rising worries about family and friends. Additionally, women who reported stronger social support experienced better quality of life during this stressful time; that association was not observed among men.
Filling a gap in gender-specific data
Lead author Grit Hein, Professor of Translational Social Neuroscience at the Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy at the University Hospital Würzburg, together with postdoctoral researcher Martin Weiß, led the study. They note that although prior research has linked psychosocial factors—such as social support and financial or work-related worries—to mental health and quality of life, there was limited evidence on whether these relationships differ between men and women. This study was designed to address that gap.
Large, representative sample
The analysis used data from the STAAB cohort, a representative sample of the general population of Würzburg originally set up to study cardiovascular health. Between June and October 2020, the cohort was expanded to include questions about psychosocial effects of the pandemic. A total of 2,890 participants (1,520 women and 1,370 men), aged 34 to 85 (median 60), completed detailed mental health questionnaires covering perceived social support, workplace stress, contact restrictions with relatives, and financial concerns.
To map the complex relations among these variables, the researchers used psychometric network analysis, which represents variables as nodes and reveals which elements are most closely connected. This method helps identify central symptoms and interactions that can explain co-occurring mental health problems and their drivers.
Findings align with traditional gender roles
The gender-specific associations the team found are consistent with established social roles: men typically show stronger psychological responses to job insecurity and unemployment, whereas women often experience greater distress from perceived neglect of family responsibilities. Similarly, women’s tendency to maintain close social ties may make social support especially effective at preserving their quality of life during crises.
While the results are clear, the authors note limitations. Most importantly, the COVID-19 pandemic created an unusual and acute context, so it remains to be determined how well these findings generalize beyond pandemic conditions. Nevertheless, the evidence points to a practical implication: interventions to protect mental health should explicitly consider social dimensions and gender-specific needs to be more effective.
About this stress research news
Author: Esther Knemeyer Pereira
Source: University of Würzburg
Contact: Esther Knemeyer Pereira – University of Würzburg
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access. “Differential network interactions between psychosocial factors, mental health, and health-related quality of life in women and men” by Grit Hein et al. Scientific Reports
Abstract
Differential network interactions between psychosocial factors, mental health, and health-related quality of life in women and men
Psychosocial factors interact with mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in complex ways, and gender differences in these interactions have been insufficiently characterized. This study explored whether social support and personal and work-related concerns affected anxiety, depression, and HRQL differently in women and men during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Using data collected between June and October 2020 from a representative, age- and gender-stratified sample in Würzburg, Germany, the team applied psychometric network analysis to model relationships among social support, personal and work concerns, anxiety, depression and HRQL. They compared network structures between sexes, assessing differences in centrality and connection strengths.
The comparison revealed a significant difference in overall network structure. In men (N = 1,370) but not in women (N = 1,520), work-related concern showed a positive association with anxiety. Anxiety emerged as the most central variable in both networks. These results indicate that the interplay between psychosocial factors, mental health and HRQL depends on gender and have implications for designing gender-sensitive interventions to bolster resilience during public health crises.