Psychosocial and economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic by sex among migrant populations compared with general Finnish population: a population-based study.

Aims: To study sex differences in the psychosocial and economic impact of the restrictive measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 among the migrant origin and the general population in Finland.

Methods: Cross-sectional MigCOVID Survey data (10/2020-2/2021; =3668) were used. FinHealth 2017 Follow-up Study participants constituted the general population reference group (=3490). Sex differences in self-perceived impact of the restrictive measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 on the psychosocial and economic situation were examined with multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for sociodemographics and self-rated health.

Results: The migrant origin population had higher odds for reporting weakened economic situation (odds ratio (OR) 5.41; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.96-7.39), increased loneliness (OR 1.75; 95% CI 1.35-2.28), decrease in feelings of hope for the future (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.33-2.19) and increased sleeping difficulties and nightmares (OR 1.98; 95% CI 1.34-2.92) than the general population. While the psychosocial and economic impact of COVID-19 was higher in women compared with men in the general population, findings were not fully replicated in the migrant origin population.

Conclusions: