Loss of meaning in activities during Covid-19 lockdown and association with low mental health in Belgian adults 50+

Introduction Engagement in meaningful activities (MA) is significantly associated with morbidity, mental health and mortality, regardless age. However, it is known that a gender difference occurs in daily activities: men choose significantly more for leisure activities, work or study, while women opt more for domestic work and social activities. During the covid-19 lockdown, it can be expected that men and women experience the severe restrictions differently. In this study we wanted to identify differences regarding restriction in MA and mental health in particular for men and women 50 y and older. Methods In Belgium, strict measures were imposed between March 13 and May 4th. During this lockdown, a large-scale web-survey with more than 2000 Belgian respondents, has been carried out. In total, 420 people 50+ participated (237 women/183 men). Results The lockdown had a major impact on the daily activities and mental health of everyone, but slightly more on those of women 50+. They scored significantly lower in engaging in MA as measured by the Engagement in Meaningful Activities Scale (EMAS) (31.36;sd 7.09 versus 33.78;sd 6.35;p.001) and experienced worse mental health measured by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) (13.80;sd 6.70 versus 11.59;sd 5.87;p<.000) than men 50+. The correlation between EMAS en GHQ was respectively .510 and .540 (p <.000). The MA women attach more importance to could no longer be continued while the typical male activities still could be practiced (even more). Moreover, the daily caring activities, in which women are already more active anyway, interfered much more with the other activities than usual. Conclusions The extent to which activities remained meaningful during the lockdown was crucial. It was obvious that 50-+ women found less meaning in their activities during corona and experienced less mental health. Subsequently, women 50+ turned out to be slightly more vulnerable than men 50+ during the Covid-19 crisis.