Inequality-related health and social factors and their impact on well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from a national survey in the UK
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Chen, Tzu-Hsuan
Wang, Yi-Jen
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background: Lower socioeconomic groups and disadvantaged populations across the world suffer disproportionately from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to examine the impact of health-and social inequality-related factors on well-being to further distinguish each of their effects during the pandemic. Methods: A nationally representative sample of 5,077 UK respondents aged 18 years or older was recruited through an online survey panel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subjective well-being was measured using the 11-point Cantril Ladder of Life Scale. Impact of inequality-related health and social factors (pre-existing medical conditions, household size and occupation), as well as COVID-19-related risk factors (symptoms, infections and social distancing behaviours), on well-being were analysed using multiple lin-20ear regression models. Associations between COVID-19-related risk factors and well-being according to the respondents’ household size and occupation were modelled to test the differences by socioeconomic profile. Results: We identified inverted V-shaped associations between household size and subjective well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Compered to single-person house-holds, respondents from households of two to four persons showed better well-being (β= 0.57; CI [0.44, 0.72]), whereas living in crowded households was associated with decreased well-being (β= -0.48; CI [-0.71, -0.25]). Furthermore, lower-skilled occupations (elementary occupations: β= -0.31; CI [-0.58, -0.03]; logistics and transport services: β= -0.37; CI [-0.74, -0.01]) and chronic medical conditions (cardiometabolic or respiratory diseases: β= -0.25; CI [-0.41, -0.1]; mental health conditions: β= 1.12; CI [-1.28, -0.96]) were factors associated with reduced well-being during the pandemic. Inter-actions between positive COVID-19 diagnosis, symptoms and crowded households were identified (β= -0.95; CI [-1.76, -0.14] and β= -4.74; CI [-9.87, -1.61], respectively). Conclusions: In a national sample, levels of general subjective well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns were disproportionately distributed across different groups within society. Preventive policies should explicitly focus on reaching low socioeconomic groups; more emphasis should be placed on the coordination of multisectoral support in order to tackle existing health and social inequalities.
Date Issued
2021-01-24
Date Acceptance
2021-01-21
Citation
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021, 18 (3)
ISSN
1660-4601
Publisher
MDPI AG
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume
18
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2021 by the authors.
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
This article is an open access article
distributed under the terms and
conditions of the Creative Commons
Attribution (CC BY) license (https://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
4.0/).
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
This article is an open access article
distributed under the terms and
conditions of the Creative Commons
Attribution (CC BY) license (https://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
4.0/).
License URL
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Environmental Sciences
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
COVID-19
health inequalities
social determinants
pandemic
population health
well-being
COVID-19
health inequalities
pandemic
population health
social determinants
well-being
COVID-19
Communicable Disease Control
Family Characteristics
Female
Health Status Disparities
Humans
Male
Pandemics
Socioeconomic Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
United Kingdom
Humans
Family Characteristics
Communicable Disease Control
Socioeconomic Factors
Female
Male
Health Status Disparities
Pandemics
Surveys and Questionnaires
United Kingdom
COVID-19
Toxicology
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 1014