Page 114 - IJPS-10-3

International Journal of
Population Studies Gender differences in mental health outcomes

violence among individuals is also acknowledged; thus, Conflict of interest
some victims may not consider abusive language or coercive
sexual behavior as domestic violence. Furthermore, data The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
about victims of violence or whether couples were included Author contributions
in the study are lacking. Another critical point that needs
to be addressed is that people experiencing interpersonal Conceptualization: Aline Hajj, Hala Sacre
violence might have monitored/restricted access to their Formal analysis: Pascale Salameh
communication devices and are thus less likely to report Methodology: Pascale Salameh
violence due to the fear of retribution. Other relevant Project administration: Hala Sacre
data were also missing, such as smoking and alcohol Visualization: Hala Sacre, Pascale Salameh
consumption before or after COVID-19 and economic Writing – original draft: Aline Hajj, Carla Abou Selwan,
crises (duration and time since the first consumption, Danielle A. Badro
changes in habits, regularity, and quantities), and, Writing – review & editing: Carla Abou Selwan, Randa
therefore, were not included in the final multivariable Aoun, Chadia Haddad, Hala Sacre, Pascale Salameh
analyses to avoid interpretation bias affecting violence.
This study can be considered a pilot one and should be Ethics approval and consent to participate
followed by other research that would elucidate violence The Institutional Review Board of the American University
in the Lebanese population using validated scales/ of Science and Technology approved this study protocol
measures. (AUST-IRB-20200527-01), as this work has been
Despite these limitations, our study remains one of the performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid
few that assessed the effects of COVID-19 and economy- down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later
related variables on the mental health of Lebanese adults, amendments. The topic was explained to all participants
focusing on gender differences and domestic violence after in the introductory section of the survey and consent to
adjusting over potential confounders. Additional studies, participate was implicit. The anonymity of participants was
taking into account all the weaknesses, are suggested to guaranteed throughout the process of data collection and
confirm the current results. analysis.
5. Conclusion Consent for publication

Our pilot study found that mental health outcomes are The participants gave consent to publish their data.
not equally felt by women or those subject to domestic
violence in the context of combined health and economic Availability of data
crises. Women exhibit higher levels of distress, anxiety, and The datasets used and/or analyzed during the present study
PTSS than men, while violent homes harbor more distress are available from the Figshare repository: https://figshare.
and insomnia. However, our results should be interpreted com/s/939d0fc0032c7af0b8c9
cautiously and in light of the study limitations since our
sample was not randomly selected or representative of the References
general population. Further robust studies using more Ackerson, L.K., Kawachi, I., Barbeau, E.M., & Subramanian, S.V.
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strategies are warranted to address, prevent, and manage 98(3):507-514.
transient and persisting psychiatric disorders, with focused https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2007.113738
measures to support and protect the most vulnerable
populations, including women and those at high risk of Ahorsu, D.K., Lin, C.Y., Imani, V., Saffari, M., Griffiths, M.D.,
domestic violence. & Pakpour, A.H. (2020). The fear of COVID-19 scale:
Development and initial validation. International Journal of
Acknowledgments Mental Health and Addiction, 20(3): 1537-1545.
None. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00270-8
Almosaed, N. (2004). Violence against women: A cross‐cultural
Funding perspective. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, 24(1):67-88.
None. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360200042000212124

Volume 10 Issue 3 (2024) 108 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.1985