MENTAL HEALTH OF ROMA WOMEN IN POST-COVID ERA

Background: The main aim of the research is to analyse the mental health of adult women living in the marginalized Roma community in western Slovakia.We monitored the level of mental health in 84 Roma women aged 20-35 with a comparative sample of women aged 36- 50.A low level of resilience (p=0.029), a reduced level of mental health (p=0.036) and psychological resistance to sudden changes (p= 0.015) as a result of the coronavirus pandemic or the impact of segregated life in a Roma settlement (p=0.018) was confirmed. Methods: Data collection was carried out in the form of a questionnaire during the community activities of women in a Roma settlement from April to July 2022. The research sample consisted of a total of 84 Roma women under the age of 50 who showed signs of impaired mental health as a result of the long-lasting pandemic situation of COVID-19 and the economic crisis. Results: Research has shown that there are significant differences in the level of mental health between women under 35 and women aged 36-50, with the quality of mental health decreasing with increasing age. Factors determining mental health proved to be relevant in the psychological field: sudden stress (p=0.024), COVID-19 disease (p= 0.026), psychological factors (p=0.038), financial problems (p= 0.021), low resistance and mechanisms resilience as well as conflicts between generations in Roma families (p=0.027) and an increase in alcoholism in the family (p=0.019). Conclusion: Roma women show signs of impaired mental health to a higher extent, due to their insufficient income, low level of education, increased demands for household and child care compared to men, they are less able to use their cognitive and emotional abilities to manage negative life skills and increase stigmatization of Roma women.

Automated summary

This research aimed to analyze the mental health of adult women in the marginalized Roma community in western Slovakia. The study found that the women had lower levels of resilience, reduced mental health, and weakened resistance to sudden changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic or the impact of segregated life in Roma settlements. Age, sudden stress, COVID-19 infection, psychological factors, financial problems, low resilience and coping mechanisms, conflicts between generations, and increased alcoholism in the family were identified as factors influencing mental health.