Gender Disparity in Happiness among Jamaicans during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

  • Paul Andrew Bourne Department of Institutional Research, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Subrina Ashley Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Shania Douglas Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Amoy Smith Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Anna-Kaye Gayle Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • James Fallah Department of Dental Hygiene, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Calvin Campbell Department of Mathematics and Engineering, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Clifton Foster Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Caroline McLean Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Dian Russell Parkes Department of Nursing, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Monique E. White Scholarships and Student Aid, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Tabitha Muchee Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.

Abstract

Objectives: This study sought to determine how gender inequality affects happiness in Jamaicans during COVID-19-the extent of gender inequality in Jamaica, and which gender has been happiest during COVID-19.

Methods: This quantitative study utilizeda face-to-face standardized survey-the Subjective Happiness Scale-to decipher gender inequalities in happiness. Researchers took male and female sample populations from all parishes' (n=1088). Microsoft Office Excel spreadsheets and IBM Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows examined the findings using descriptive data.

Findings: Unequal treatment because of gender is uncommon in Jamaica. Prior to COVID-19, 15.7% (n=171) of respondents experienced unequal treatment due to gender and 84.3% (n=917) did not. Since COVID-19, 12.8% (n=139) experience gender disparity. Of those respondents, 40.4% (n=69) are less happy while 9.4% (n=16) are very happy. Of those who did not experience the disparity, 30.4% (n=279) are very happy, 30.8% (n=282) not happy and 38.8% (n=359) moderately happy. Male respondents were slightly happier than females-40.7% (n=185) to 17.4% (n=110) rating very happy. In comparison to 35% (n=159) of males, 44.6% (n=283) of females were moderately happy. Thirty-eight percent (n=241) of females and 24.2% (n=110) of males were unhappy. Hence, there is a disparity in happiness between genders. Overall, the majority (40.6%; n=442) are moderately happy and 32.3% (n=351) not happy. The minority (27.1%; n=295) are very happy.

Conclusions: COVID-19 has affected well-being and mental health, changing how individuals spend their time, perhaps affecting subjective well-being.

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Published

2022-04-25

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2022): Global Journal of Emerging Trend in Education and Social Science (ISSN: 2582-1377)

Section

Articles