The COVID-19 lockdown: effects of material conditions and social context on self-reported health during confinement

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22325/fes/res.2022.130

Keywords:

Self-reported health, perceived health, lockdown, COVID-19, social determinants of health

Abstract

Lockdown policies implemented to defeat the spread of COVID-19 have been shown to be effective from an epidemiological perspective, but little is known about how they affect wellbeing and individual health perception. Using information from the 2020 Social Survey for Andalusia (a southern region in Spain), this paper examines how lockdown affects self-reported health. Contrary to what might be expected, perceived population health generally improved, but not in every social group, with young people and low-income groups reporting a deterioration. Moreover, perceived health became more difficult to predict in terms of the classic health, socio-demographic, socio-economic and residential determinants, with lockdown-related changes being particularly relevant. Direct contact with COVID-19, economic problems resulting from the lockdown and changes in daily activities became key explanatory factors for perceived health, particularly affecting the mental and emotional state of the population.

Author Biographies

José Manuel Torrado, Departamento de Sociología, Universidad de Granada

PhD in Sociology by the University of Granada. He teaches in the Department of Sociology, Social Work and Public Health in the University of Huelva. His research topics are urban sociology, demography and human geography, with a special focus on the analysis of residential behavior, flows of residential mobility, the study delimitation, and classification of spaces based on social and functional criteria and, more recently, changes in mobility and everyday life due to COVID-19.

Ricardo Duque-Calvache, Department of Sociology, University of Granada

PhD in Sociology and Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology in the University of Granada (Spain). His formation included some research stays in different universities in Europe and the United States. His research topics are focused in urban studies and demography, with special attention to residential behaviour, metropolitan areas, gentrification processes and, more recently, changes in mobility and everyday life due to COVID-19.

Ángela Mesa-Pedrazas, Instituto de Desarrollo Regional, Universidad de Granada

Social researcher and PhD candidate in Social Sciences from the University of Granada. Her main object of study is the social construction of public space in cities. However, her field of research and professional experience extends to all social realities linked to territorial dimensions.

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Published

2022-09-30

How to Cite

Torrado, J. M., Duque-Calvache, R., & Mesa-Pedrazas, Ángela. (2022). The COVID-19 lockdown: effects of material conditions and social context on self-reported health during confinement. Spanish Journal of Sociology, 31(4), a130. https://doi.org/10.22325/fes/res.2022.130

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