IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bcp/journl/v7y2023i4p610-622.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Women in the Households: Qualitative Analysis of Women’s Quality of Life and Mental Health

Author

Listed:
  • Thanuja Wijesiri

    (The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka)

  • Gayanthi Ilangarathna

    (The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka)

  • Wathsala Dedunupitiya

    (The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka)

  • Janaka Ekanayake

    (The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka)

  • Sakunthala Yatigammana

    (The Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, The University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka)

  • Mallika Pinnawala

    (The Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, The University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka)

  • Ganga Thilakarathne

    (Institute of Policy Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

  • Roshan Godaliyadda

    (The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka)

  • Parakrama Ekanayake

    (The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a reflective tremor worldwide, with different implications for men and women while affecting all aspects of human beings. Accordingly, this pandemic has affected women in unique gender-specific ways, particularly their traditional status as household managers. The main aim of this study is to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life and the mental health of women in Sri Lanka using qualitative research methods. The information for the study was gathered through semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 50 respondents selected using a purposive sampling technique. The collected data from the interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. The findings of the study indicated that quality of life and mental health difficulties have been exacerbated during the pandemic for many women in households in Sri Lanka. Due to the pandemic, income and consumption levels have significantly changed within the households and that has adversely impacted the quality of life of women. Government-imposed restrictions on COVID-19 have had both adverse and propitious impacts on women’s social interactions. Accordingly, it has also affected the mental health of women. This study will assist policymakers in understanding and devising appropriate policies considering the quality of life and mental health-related issues faced by women in households during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Thanuja Wijesiri & Gayanthi Ilangarathna & Wathsala Dedunupitiya & Janaka Ekanayake & Sakunthala Yatigammana & Mallika Pinnawala & Ganga Thilakarathne & Roshan Godaliyadda & Parakrama Ekanayake, 2023. "The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Women in the Households: Qualitative Analysis of Women’s Quality of Life and Mental Health," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(4), pages 610-622, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:7:y:2023:i:4:p:610-622
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/Digital-Library/volume-7-issue-4/610-622.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/the-impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-women-in-the-households-qualitative-analysis-of-womens-quality-of-life-and-mental-health/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Md. Mazharul Islam & Majed Alharthi, 2022. "Impact of COVID-19 on the Quality of Life of Households in Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-22, January.
    2. Chiara Mussida & Raffaella Patimo, 2021. "Women’s Family Care Responsibilities, Employment and Health: A Tale of Two Countries," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 489-507, September.
    3. Fahad D. Algahtani & Sehar-un-Nisa Hassan & Bandar Alsaif & Rafat Zrieq, 2021. "Assessment of the Quality of Life during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-12, January.
    4. Kyoung Tae Kim & Melissa J. Wilmarth, 2016. "Government Subsidies and Household Debt Burden After the Great Recession," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 349-358, September.
    5. Yoshie Sano & Sheila Mammen, 2022. "Mitigating the Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Rural Low-Income Families," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 43(2), pages 227-238, June.
    6. Terri Friedline & Zibei Chen & So’Phelia Morrow, 2021. "Families’ Financial Stress & Well-Being: The Importance of the Economy and Economic Environments," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 34-51, July.
    7. Stephen Roll & Yung Chun & Olga Kondratjeva & Mathieu Despard & Talia Meital Schwartz-Tayri & Michal Grinstein-Weiss, 2022. "Household Spending Patterns and Hardships during COVID-19: A Comparative Study of the U.S. and Israel," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 43(2), pages 261-281, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Adá-Lameiras, Alba & Antonovica, Arta & de Esteban Curiel, Javier & Aydogan, Merve, 2024. "The impact of health crisis on sports consumption – A longitudinal study," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    2. Francisco Azpitarte & Gaston Yalonetzky, 2023. "The measurement of asset and wealth poverty," Chapters, in: Jacques Silber (ed.), Research Handbook on Measuring Poverty and Deprivation, chapter 38, pages 410-419, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Hidayah Karuniawati & Nila Sari & Md. Sanower Hossain & Wan Ismahanisa Ismail & Aniq Hudiyah Bil Haq & Tri Yulianti & Taufik Taufik & Gardhika Rizky Sudarsono, 2022. "Assessment of Mental Health and Quality of Life Status of Undergraduate Students in Indonesia during COVID-19 Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.
    4. Sara Fernández‐López & Marcos Álvarez‐Espiño & Lucía Rey‐Ares & Sandra Castro‐González, 2024. "Consumer financial vulnerability: Review, synthesis, and future research agenda," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(4), pages 1045-1084, September.
    5. Childress, Saltanat & Roberts, Alison & LaBrenz, Catherine A. & Findley, Erin & Ekueku, Modesty & Baiden, Philip, 2023. "Exploring the lived experiences of women with children during COVID-19: Maternal stress and coping mechanisms," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    6. Edmond Pui Hang Choi & Bryant Pui Hung Hui & Eric Yuk Fai Wan & Jojo Yan Yan Kwok & Tiffany Hei Lam Tam & Chanchan Wu, 2021. "COVID-19 and Health-Related Quality of Life: A Community-Based Online Survey in Hong Kong," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-12, March.
    7. Marlena Piekut, 2024. "Housing conditions in European one-person households," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(5), pages 1-23, May.
    8. Ryuichi Ohta & Yoshinori Ryu & Chiaki Sano, 2022. "Improvement in Quality of Life through Self-Management of Mild Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-9, May.
    9. Turgut Karakose & Tuncay Yavuz Ozdemir & Stamatios Papadakis & Ramazan Yirci & Secil Eda Ozkayran & Hakan Polat, 2022. "Investigating the Relationships between COVID-19 Quality of Life, Loneliness, Happiness, and Internet Addiction among K-12 Teachers and School Administrators—A Structural Equation Modeling Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-20, January.
    10. Samieul Azad & Melissa Marselle, 2025. "Thriving Through Stressful Life Events with Nature: A Mixed-Method Study on Tending Indoor Plants and Rumination Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(3), pages 1-37, March.
    11. Monira I. Aldhahi & Shahnaz Akil & Uzma Zaidi & Eman Mortada & Salwa Awad & Nisreen Al Awaji, 2021. "Effect of Resilience on Health-Related Quality of Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-16, October.
    12. Reljic, Jelena & Zezza, Francesco, 2025. "Breaking the divide: Can public spending on social infrastructure boost female employment in Italy?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    13. Andreia Teixeira & Ronaldo Gabriel & José Martinho & Irene Oliveira & Mário Santos & Graça Pinto & Helena Moreira, 2023. "Distance to Natural Environments, Physical Activity, Sleep, and Body Composition in Women: An Exploratory Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-20, February.
    14. Won Seok Lee & Joonho Moon, 2023. "The Impacts of Subjective Health and Life Expenses on Quality of Life for Korean Elderly People," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-11, November.
    15. Ashley B. LeBaron-Black & Jeremy B. Yorgason & Melissa A. Curran & Matthew T. Saxey & Rachel M. Okamoto, 2022. "The ABC-X’s of Stress among U.S. Emerging Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Relationship Quality, Financial Distress, and Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-16, October.
    16. Cesar Leandro, Julio & Botelho, Delane, 2022. "Consumer over-indebtedness: A review and future research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 535-551.
    17. Teresa Rubio-Tomás & Maria Skouroliakou & Dimitrios Ntountaniotis, 2022. "Lockdown Due to COVID-19 and Its Consequences on Diet, Physical Activity, Lifestyle, and Other Aspects of Daily Life Worldwide: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-41, June.
    18. Felix, Robert & Wilford, Amanda L., 2024. "Auditor's financial stress: An inconspicuous determinant of audit outcomes," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    19. Terri Friedline & Zibei Chen & So’Phelia Morrow, 2021. "Families’ Financial Stress & Well-Being: The Importance of the Economy and Economic Environments," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 34-51, July.
    20. Yiqian Wang & Yibin Li, 2024. "Revisiting jobs-housing balance: unveiling the impact of housing subsidy policy on residential locations across different income groups," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:7:y:2023:i:4:p:610-622. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Pawan Verma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.