Mental Health and Factors Associated With Psychological Trauma in Working Women During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review



Ghavi S¹ ; Asarzadeh R² ; Derakhshan S³ ; Poursaman S⁴ ; Sohrabivafa F⁵
Source: Iranian Journal of Epidemiology Published:2023

Abstract

Background and Objectives: In December 2019, a novel coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan, China, leading to the global outbreak of COVID-19. The rapid transmission of the virus, the emergence of various strains, disparities in community vaccination, and the high mortality rate have presented significant health challenges to countries worldwide. Against this backdrop, this study aimed to assess the mental health status of women in the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study employed a systematic review approach, conducting keyword searches on databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The search terms included Covid-19 Virus Infection, Covid-19 Pandemic, Coronavirus, Alphacoronavirus, Bat Coronavirus, Mental health, Psychological, Working women, Working woman, and Employee women. Articles published between 2019 and 2021 were collected and evaluated. A total of 11 articles met the inclusion criteria for data extraction and were analyzed. Results: The reviewed studies identified several significant psychological consequences, with anxiety being reported in 82% of the articles, followed by stress (73%) and depression (64%). The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated negative psychological effects among working women, including those in hospital settings and those working remotely. Conclusion: A multitude of factors contribute to the experience of COVID-19-related stress among women. These include health disparities, lower professional status, worries about personal health, family and community well-being, financial uncertainties, childcare responsibilities, and decreased social connections. As a result, stress-related disorders such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, insomnia, and burnout tend to manifest more severely in working women compared to men in comparable positions. © 2023 The Authors. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences.