The Impact of Gender on Coping Behavior Across Cultures During a Global Health Crisis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47703/ejgs.v3i1.94Keywords:
Gender, Gender Difference, Gender Behavior, Health, Social Sustainability, Europe, AsiaAbstract
In the context of global health crises, the importance of studying the factors that determine population behavioral adaptation strategies is increasing. The aim of the study is to identify gender differences in coping styles and strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic and to assess the role of cultural context in shaping these differences. The methodological basis consists of methods of descriptive statistics and comparative analysis, including t-tests for independent samples. The empirical base of the study includes survey data from 2,617 respondents aged 18 to 70 from six countries (China, India, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Germany, and Hungary), collected using the Brief COPE questionnaire. Findings reveal that gender significantly impacts (p < 0.05) all three coping styles. The strongest gender differences were observed in PFC and EFC, with women showing higher preferences, while men exhibited a slight tendency toward AC. Coping strategies further confirmed gender-based distinctions and revealed the combined effects of gender and cultural contexts on coping. Significant effects emerged for specific coping strategies: active coping (F = 9.35, p < 0.01), positive reframing (F = 3.99, p < 0.05), emotional support (F = 21.66, p < 0.001), religion (F = 9.56, p < 0.01), and self-distraction (F = 4.13, p < 0.05). These findings highlight that both gender and cultural context play a critical role in shaping coping strategies during a pandemic. These provide insights into the development of culturally sensitive interventions to enhance individuals' psychological resilience in future health crises.
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