Pandemic Hits Women and Youth's Mental Health

A YouGov survey carried out in 27 countries finds the Covid-19 pandemic has had the most severe mental-health effects on young people and on women. Younger respondents consistently reported higher levels of anxiety about their mental health and increased worries about their financial futures, while women were more likely than men to say the pandemic had harmed their wellbeing. The findings summarize self-reported experiences rather than identifying precise causes.

Despite these mental-health strains, the survey found relatively few people worldwide were planning major life changes because of the pandemic. Respondents in northern Europe and many English-speaking countries reported comparatively small effects on their personal finances. Overall changes to lifestyle were limited; where people did report positive effects, they most often cited closer family ties and strengthened partner relationships, producing a mixed picture of harm and resilience.