COVID-19 effects on women's home and work life, family violence and mental health from the Women's Health Expert Panel of the American Academy of Nursing

Judith A. Berg, Nancy Fugate Woods, Joan Shaver, Elizabeth A. Kostas-Polston

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic exaggerated women's roles in families as primary caretakers and overseers of family health. This is compounded by possible loss of work and resultant loss of health insurance. Purpose: We examine how pandemic-related factors have altered women's roles and created stressors challenging stress adaptation and typical coping strategies, including how registered nurses have faced unique challenges. Family Violence and Pandemic-Related Mental Health Challenges: Enforced stay-athome orders exaggerated by work-from-home has amplified family violence worldwide. Besides COVID-19 protective measures increasing greater contact with abusers, they limited women's access to help or support. Pandemic-related issues increased anxiety, anger, stress, agitation and withdrawal for women, children, and registered nurses. Discussion: More evidence about pandemic-related impacts on women's home and work lives, especially the scope of stressors and emotional/mental health manifestations is urgently needed. Policies to support interventions to improve mental health resilience are paramount.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)570-579
Number of pages10
JournalNursing outlook
Volume70
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • COVID-19 and nursing workforce
  • COVID-19 and women's mental health
  • moral distress
  • nursing burnout
  • women's health

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Nursing

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