COVID-19 and mental health deterioration by ethnicity and gender in the UK

We use the UK Household Longitudinal Study and compare pre-COVID-19 pandemic (2017-2019) and during-COVID-19 pandemic data (April 2020) for the same group of individuals to assess and quantify changes in mental health as measured by changes in the GHQ-12 (General Health Questionnaire), among ethnic groups in the UK. We confirm the previously documented average deterioration in mental health for the whole sample of individuals interviewed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we find that the average increase in mental distress varies by ethnicity and gender. Both women -regardless of their ethnicity- and Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) men experienced a higher average increase in mental distress than White British men, so that the gender gap in mental health increases only among White British individuals. These ethnic-gender specific changes in mental health persist after controlling for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Finally, we find some evidence that, among men, Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani individuals have experienced the highest average increase in mental distress with respect to White British men.

Automated summary

There was an overall deterioration in mental health during the pandemic, but the increase in mental distress varies by ethnicity and gender. Women and BAME men experienced a higher increase in mental distress compared to White men, leading to a widening gender gap in mental health among White British individuals. Specific changes in mental health by ethnicity and gender persisted even after controlling for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Additionally, Bangladeshi, Indian, and Pakistani men exhibited the highest increase in mental distress compared to White British men.