Covid-19 pandemic is widening economic inequalities

People who were struggling financially before the pandemic are more than twice as likely, compared to people who were already living comfortably, to say they are now even worse off, find UCL researchers as part of the Covid-19 Social Study. Among people who were finding it difficult before the pandemic, 55% said in October 2021 they were worse off than before the pandemic, compared to 19% of people who were living comfortably before the pandemic. The study found that people who were living comfortably before the pandemic were also most likely to say they were now much better off. It is the UK's largest study into how adults are feeling about the lockdown, government advice and overall wellbeing and mental health with over 70,000 participants who have been followed across the last 84 weeks. Lead author Dr Elise Paul (UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care) said: "These widening disparities are cause for concern, as we have been finding throughout the pandemic that people with low household incomes report higher levels of depression and anxiety symptoms, and loneliness, and lower levels of life satisfaction and happiness. People on lower incomes have also reported worries about being able to access sufficient food. This may not have always been due to the pandemic, as Brexit and petrol problems have also been contributing factors this year.