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Well-Being throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Gendered Effects of Daycare and School Closures

Author

Listed:
  • Huebener, Mathias

    (Bundesinstitut für Bevölkerungsforschung (BiB))

  • Waights, Sevrin

    (Humboldt University Berlin)

  • Spieß, C. Katharina

    (Bundesinstitut für Bevölkerungsforschung (BiB))

Abstract

In this chapter, we aim to improve the understanding of the well-being impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We provide an overview of the existing literature and carry out empirical analysis aimed at addressing certain gaps in the knowledge. Specifically, we examine the evolution of parental well-being over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and relate changes to the severity of restrictions on school and daycare facilities. Our analysis makes use of unique data from the COMPASS survey collected at 17 different point throughout the pandemic in Germany. We find that there is a large difference in retrospective stress-feelings between women and men that is present only for individuals living with children under the age of 12. We also show that the size of the gender gap in life satisfaction fluctuates over time in a way that is related to severity of restrictions to daycare and school operation.

Suggested Citation

  • Huebener, Mathias & Waights, Sevrin & Spieß, C. Katharina, 2024. "Well-Being throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Gendered Effects of Daycare and School Closures," IZA Discussion Papers 16907, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp16907
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    1. repec:dem:wpaper:wp-2023-007 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Jessen Jonas & Spiess C. Katharina & Waights Sevrin & Wrohlich Katharina, 2022. "The gender division of unpaid care work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany," German Economic Review, De Gruyter, vol. 23(4), pages 641-667, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Eileen Peters & Merle Pohlmeyer & Karin Schulze Buschoff, 2025. "Diverging Paths? The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Subjective Well-Being of the Solo Self-Employed and Employees in Germany (2019–2023)," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 180(1), pages 183-204, October.
    2. Lisa Kriechel & Martin Bujard & Ansgar Hudde, 2025. "The Rollercoaster of Subjective Well-Being in Times of Multiple Crises: Evidence of Five Waves of Bi-Annual Panel Data of FReDA Survey," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 180(3), pages 1353-1385, December.
    3. Bujard, Martin & Huebener, Mathias, 2024. "Baby Bumps and Abortion Drop: Unpacking Fertility Trends During COVID-19 in Germany," IZA Discussion Papers 17471, IZA Network @ LISER.
    4. Mareike Rußmann & Nicolai Netz & Ulrike Schwabe, 2025. "Doctoral Students’ Life Satisfaction Throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic: Inequalities by Parenthood and Gender," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 180(2), pages 643-673, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General

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