Gender-Specific Mental Health Outcomes in Central America: A Natural Experiment

Hugo Moises Montesinos-Yufa; Thea Nagasuru-McKeever

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11

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Gender-Specific Mental Health Outcomes in Central America: A Natural Experiment

Hugo Moises Montesinos-Yufa^*

, Thea Nagasuru-McKeever^*

Published in International Journal on Data Science and Technology (Volume 10, Issue 3)

Received: 5 July 2024 Accepted: 25 July 2024 Published: 27 August 2024

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions have had profound impacts on mental health worldwide, with varying effects across different demographics and regions. Specifically, COVID lockdown measures are known to have had a disparate impact on women. This study aims to better understand this phenomenon by investigating the effect of COVID-19 stringency measures on depression rates among men and women in the Republic of Nicaragua and the Republic of Honduras. The two neighboring countries serve as a natural experiment: the former noted for its relaxed approach to the pandemic, and the latter implementing stricter lockdown measures. Using a Bayesian structural time series model, yearly depression rates were analyzed in both countries, utilizing various weather indicators as predictors, including yearly rainfall and average ground temperature data. In both countries, rates of depression among women were historically higher than among men. The difference in depression rates between women and men increased during the intervention period in both countries (p < 0.001). However, the absolute effect of the intervention in Honduras was significantly higher (p < 0.001) at 0.39 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.41) compared to Nicaragua, which was 0.26 (95% CI: 0.21, 0.31). These findings suggest that the higher stringency measures in Honduras, including prolonged lockdowns and restrictions on movement, may have disproportionately affected women's mental health. These results highlight the importance of considering women’s wellbeing when designing and implementing public health policies, particularly during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published in	International Journal on Data Science and Technology (Volume 10, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11
Page(s)	45-50
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

COVID-19, Bayesian Structural Time Series, Mental Health, Women’s Health, Central America, Stringency, Causalimpact, Synthetic Control

References

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APA Style

Montesinos-Yufa, H. M., Nagasuru-McKeever, T. (2024). Gender-Specific Mental Health Outcomes in Central America: A Natural Experiment. International Journal on Data Science and Technology, 10(3), 45-50. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11

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ACS Style

Montesinos-Yufa, H. M.; Nagasuru-McKeever, T. Gender-Specific Mental Health Outcomes in Central America: A Natural Experiment. Int. J. Data Sci. Technol. 2024, 10(3), 45-50. doi: 10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11

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AMA Style

Montesinos-Yufa HM, Nagasuru-McKeever T. Gender-Specific Mental Health Outcomes in Central America: A Natural Experiment. Int J Data Sci Technol. 2024;10(3):45-50. doi: 10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11,
  author = {Hugo Moises Montesinos-Yufa and Thea Nagasuru-McKeever},
  title = {Gender-Specific Mental Health Outcomes in Central America: A Natural Experiment
},
  journal = {International Journal on Data Science and Technology},
  volume = {10},
  number = {3},
  pages = {45-50},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijdst.20241003.11},
  abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions have had profound impacts on mental health worldwide, with varying effects across different demographics and regions. Specifically, COVID lockdown measures are known to have had a disparate impact on women. This study aims to better understand this phenomenon by investigating the effect of COVID-19 stringency measures on depression rates among men and women in the Republic of Nicaragua and the Republic of Honduras. The two neighboring countries serve as a natural experiment: the former noted for its relaxed approach to the pandemic, and the latter implementing stricter lockdown measures. Using a Bayesian structural time series model, yearly depression rates were analyzed in both countries, utilizing various weather indicators as predictors, including yearly rainfall and average ground temperature data. In both countries, rates of depression among women were historically higher than among men. The difference in depression rates between women and men increased during the intervention period in both countries (p < 0.001). However, the absolute effect of the intervention in Honduras was significantly higher (p < 0.001) at 0.39 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.41) compared to Nicaragua, which was 0.26 (95% CI: 0.21, 0.31). These findings suggest that the higher stringency measures in Honduras, including prolonged lockdowns and restrictions on movement, may have disproportionately affected women's mental health. These results highlight the importance of considering women’s wellbeing when designing and implementing public health policies, particularly during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
},
 year = {2024}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Gender-Specific Mental Health Outcomes in Central America: A Natural Experiment

AU  - Hugo Moises Montesinos-Yufa
AU  - Thea Nagasuru-McKeever
Y1  - 2024/08/27
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11
T2  - International Journal on Data Science and Technology
JF  - International Journal on Data Science and Technology
JO  - International Journal on Data Science and Technology
SP  - 45
EP  - 50
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-2235
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11
AB  - The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions have had profound impacts on mental health worldwide, with varying effects across different demographics and regions. Specifically, COVID lockdown measures are known to have had a disparate impact on women. This study aims to better understand this phenomenon by investigating the effect of COVID-19 stringency measures on depression rates among men and women in the Republic of Nicaragua and the Republic of Honduras. The two neighboring countries serve as a natural experiment: the former noted for its relaxed approach to the pandemic, and the latter implementing stricter lockdown measures. Using a Bayesian structural time series model, yearly depression rates were analyzed in both countries, utilizing various weather indicators as predictors, including yearly rainfall and average ground temperature data. In both countries, rates of depression among women were historically higher than among men. The difference in depression rates between women and men increased during the intervention period in both countries (p < 0.001). However, the absolute effect of the intervention in Honduras was significantly higher (p < 0.001) at 0.39 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.41) compared to Nicaragua, which was 0.26 (95% CI: 0.21, 0.31). These findings suggest that the higher stringency measures in Honduras, including prolonged lockdowns and restrictions on movement, may have disproportionately affected women's mental health. These results highlight the importance of considering women’s wellbeing when designing and implementing public health policies, particularly during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

VL  - 10
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Hugo Moises Montesinos-Yufa

Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics, Ursinus College, Collegeville, United States

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6957-7519
Thea Nagasuru-McKeever

Department of Biology, Ursinus College, Collegeville, United States

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0002-5847-3655

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APA Style

Montesinos-Yufa, H. M., Nagasuru-McKeever, T. (2024). Gender-Specific Mental Health Outcomes in Central America: A Natural Experiment. International Journal on Data Science and Technology, 10(3), 45-50. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11

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ACS Style

Montesinos-Yufa, H. M.; Nagasuru-McKeever, T. Gender-Specific Mental Health Outcomes in Central America: A Natural Experiment. Int. J. Data Sci. Technol. 2024, 10(3), 45-50. doi: 10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11

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AMA Style

Montesinos-Yufa HM, Nagasuru-McKeever T. Gender-Specific Mental Health Outcomes in Central America: A Natural Experiment. Int J Data Sci Technol. 2024;10(3):45-50. doi: 10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11,
  author = {Hugo Moises Montesinos-Yufa and Thea Nagasuru-McKeever},
  title = {Gender-Specific Mental Health Outcomes in Central America: A Natural Experiment
},
  journal = {International Journal on Data Science and Technology},
  volume = {10},
  number = {3},
  pages = {45-50},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijdst.20241003.11},
  abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions have had profound impacts on mental health worldwide, with varying effects across different demographics and regions. Specifically, COVID lockdown measures are known to have had a disparate impact on women. This study aims to better understand this phenomenon by investigating the effect of COVID-19 stringency measures on depression rates among men and women in the Republic of Nicaragua and the Republic of Honduras. The two neighboring countries serve as a natural experiment: the former noted for its relaxed approach to the pandemic, and the latter implementing stricter lockdown measures. Using a Bayesian structural time series model, yearly depression rates were analyzed in both countries, utilizing various weather indicators as predictors, including yearly rainfall and average ground temperature data. In both countries, rates of depression among women were historically higher than among men. The difference in depression rates between women and men increased during the intervention period in both countries (p < 0.001). However, the absolute effect of the intervention in Honduras was significantly higher (p < 0.001) at 0.39 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.41) compared to Nicaragua, which was 0.26 (95% CI: 0.21, 0.31). These findings suggest that the higher stringency measures in Honduras, including prolonged lockdowns and restrictions on movement, may have disproportionately affected women's mental health. These results highlight the importance of considering women’s wellbeing when designing and implementing public health policies, particularly during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
},
 year = {2024}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Gender-Specific Mental Health Outcomes in Central America: A Natural Experiment

AU  - Hugo Moises Montesinos-Yufa
AU  - Thea Nagasuru-McKeever
Y1  - 2024/08/27
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11
T2  - International Journal on Data Science and Technology
JF  - International Journal on Data Science and Technology
JO  - International Journal on Data Science and Technology
SP  - 45
EP  - 50
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-2235
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijdst.20241003.11
AB  - The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions have had profound impacts on mental health worldwide, with varying effects across different demographics and regions. Specifically, COVID lockdown measures are known to have had a disparate impact on women. This study aims to better understand this phenomenon by investigating the effect of COVID-19 stringency measures on depression rates among men and women in the Republic of Nicaragua and the Republic of Honduras. The two neighboring countries serve as a natural experiment: the former noted for its relaxed approach to the pandemic, and the latter implementing stricter lockdown measures. Using a Bayesian structural time series model, yearly depression rates were analyzed in both countries, utilizing various weather indicators as predictors, including yearly rainfall and average ground temperature data. In both countries, rates of depression among women were historically higher than among men. The difference in depression rates between women and men increased during the intervention period in both countries (p < 0.001). However, the absolute effect of the intervention in Honduras was significantly higher (p < 0.001) at 0.39 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.41) compared to Nicaragua, which was 0.26 (95% CI: 0.21, 0.31). These findings suggest that the higher stringency measures in Honduras, including prolonged lockdowns and restrictions on movement, may have disproportionately affected women's mental health. These results highlight the importance of considering women’s wellbeing when designing and implementing public health policies, particularly during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

VL  - 10
IS  - 3
ER  -

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