18 Oct Who Takes COVID-19 Health Problems More Seriously? Men or Women?

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Profeta

Paola Profeta, PhD
Professor of Public Economics, Department of Social and Political Sciences
Bocconi University
Director, Msc Politics and Policy Analysis, Bocconi University
Coordinator, Dondena Gender Initiative, Dondena Research Center
President, European Public Choice Society

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: We interview more than 20000 men and women in 8 OECD countries in two periods during the lockdown.

Using two waves from 8 OECD countries, we find that women are more likely to perceive the pandemic as a very serious health problem, to agree with restraining measures and to comply with public health rules, such as using facemasks. This gender differences are less strong for married individuals and for individuals who have been directly exposed to COVID, for instance by knowing someone who was infected. 

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

 Response: Together with other causes, the behavioral factor we found can contribute to explain the substantial gender differences in Covid-19 mortality and is also consistent with women-led countries responding more effectively to the pandemic. Our results call for gender-based public health policies and communication.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work? 

Response: Further research is needed to understand why women are more compliant. Moreover, it would be important to understand which public communication could be effective in convincing men to comply more with the rules.

Citation:

Gender differences in COVID-19 attitudes and behavior: Panel evidence from eight countries
Vincenzo Galasso, Vincent Pons, Paola Profeta, Michael Becher, Sylvain Brouard, Martial Foucault
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Oct 2020, 202012520; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2012520117

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Last Updated on October 18, 2020 by Marie Benz MD FAAD