Mental Health After Lockdown: Recovery, But Inequality Remains.
Nearly five years after the end of COVID lockdowns, researchers are still uncovering the long-term effects of the pandemic on mental health. A new study examining British baby boomers and Generation X found that, on average, psychological distress rose sharply during the pandemic but later declined back to levels similar to those seen before COVID.
However, the research highlights a persistent problem: mental health inequities did not disappear. Women and individuals from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds consistently experienced worse mental health throughout adulthood -both before and after the pandemic. These disparities could be traced back to early-life conditions, showing the lifelong impact of gender and economic disadvantage.
“Women and people who grew up in socioeconomically disadvantaged households consistently reported higher psychological distress throughout their lives compared to men and people from more advantaged backgrounds.”
