Multi-method analysis of gender differences in psychological distress among the elderly during COVID

Abstract   As COVID swept through Europe, and the world, with high rates of illness and death, so did symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, stress, and psychological distress. This study examines the relationship between gender and psychological distress among Latvians over 50 years old within the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from Wave 8 COVID-19 data of the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) as an early data version of the SHARE Corona survey conducted between June and August 2020. It features the data collected by telephone (CATI) on topics related to COVID-19 for a large sub-sample of SHARE panel respondents. This study examined a sample of 980 adults over 50 years old in Latvia. Bivariate analysis were performed utilizing the Pearson chi-square test for association to examine differences in symptoms of psychological distress by gender during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Level of significance was determined by the p-value test statistic. Alpha level was established at .05. A chi-square test for association shows that there were statistically relationships between gender and feeling nervous (X2 (2, N = 976) = 22.11, p < .001), feeling depressed (X2 (3, N = 976) = 10.95, p < .01), and trouble sleeping (X2 (2, N = 976) = 20.40, p < .001). This study rejects the null hypothesis that no differences exist between the genders, as women reported greater psychological distress during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional multi-method analysis is consistent with these findings and concludes that this is due to the greater concern women report for family, and the burden which placed limitations on meeting their children and grandchildren. Key messages Gender differences exist in experiences of psychological distress during the early COVID-19 pandemic among the aging population in Latvia. With the high rates of illness and death associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, so were symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, stress, and psychological distress.

As COVID swept through Europe, and the world, with high rates of illness and death, so did symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, stress, and psychological distress. This study examines the relationship between gender and psychological distress among Latvians over 50 years old within the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from Wave 8 COVID-19 data of the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) as an early data version of the SHARE Corona survey conducted between June and August 2020. It features the data collected by telephone (CATI) on topics related to COVID-19 for a large sub-sample of SHARE panel respondents. This study examined a sample of 980 adults over 50 years old in Latvia. Bivariate analysis were performed utilizing the Pearson chi-square test for association to examine differences in symptoms of psychological distress by gender during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Level of significance was determined by the p-value test statistic. Alpha level was established at .05. A chi-square test for association shows that there were statistically relationships between gender and feeling nervous (X2 (2, N = 976) = 22.11, p < .001), feeling depressed (X2 (3, N = 976) = 10.95, p < .01), and trouble sleeping (X2 (2, N = 976) = 20.40, p < .001). This study rejects the null hypothesis that no differences exist between the genders, as women reported greater psychological distress during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional multimethod analysis is consistent with these findings and concludes that this is due to the greater concern women report for family, and the burden which placed limitations on meeting their children and grandchildren. Key messages: Gender differences exist in experiences of psychological distress during the early COVID-19 pandemic among the aging population in Latvia.
With the high rates of illness and death associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, so were symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, stress, and psychological distress.

Background:
Parental burnout (PB) is a relatively new syndrome resulting from chronic parenting stress. Besides efforts to enhance scientific and public understanding of PB, little is known about its link to intimate partner violence (IPV), and the psychometrics of German measures for PB remain an underresearched topic. This study aims to address these gaps by 1) testing the interplay of PB, parenting, couple satisfaction, and IPV, 2) examining the psychometrics of the German version of the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA).

Methods:
Data were collected online as part of an international PB study including Austrian parents aged 18 or older with at least one child at home (0-18). Overall, N = 121 mothers from a community sample reported on family functioning, PB, couple quality and gender roles. Structural equation modeling was applied to assess the fit of the theoretical model. Furthermore, data from N = 220 Austrian and German parents on PB and familial variables during the Covid-19 pandemic were collected to analyze the psychometrics of the German PBA. Confirmatory factor analyses were performed to test the validity of the PBA.

Conclusions:
This study provides preliminary evidence for the importance of couples' relationship satisfaction in understanding links between IPV and PB as well as parenting in German-speaking mothers. On the basis of these findings, future public health efforts may be organized to focus on preventing PB indirectly or directly by targeting couples' relationship. Additionally, psychometric results of this study can inform researchers and practitioners about the applicability of the German PBA, improving screening of at-risk parents, and offering support for parents at early stages.
iii396 European Journal of Public Health, Volume 32 Supplement 3, 2022