Researchers have speculated that the economic consequences and social isolation caused by COVID-19 will harm mental health and household interactions. In this paper, we test this claim in the immediate aftermath of Mexico City’s COVID-19 stay-at-home order. We examine whether the order affected mental health, intimate partner violence (IPV), and household decisions using call-center data. Our empirical methodology uses an event-study design to track call-center volume by type of call. Our results show four main patterns. First, we show that IPV-related calls for psychological services reached a peak but then declined, while IPV requests for legal aid waned. Second, anxiety-related calls increased, but there was no effect on depression. Third, abortion-related calls decreased, with no corresponding impact on pregnancy call volume. Fourth, divorce calls asking for psychological aid reached a peak, but there is no observed effect on requests for divorce legal assistance.

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household legal assistance mental health intimate partner violence ipv and household decisions eventstudy design psychological services consequences covid19 anxietyrelated isolation callcenter volume abortionrelated calls pregnancy call

Hoehn-Velasco, Lauren, de la Miyar, Jose Roberto Balmori, Rodriguez, Abel,Silverio-Murillo, Adan,.COVID-19 and Women’s Well-Being. (),.

Hoehn-Velasco, Lauren, et al."COVID-19 and Women’s Well-Being"

Hoehn-Velasco, Lauren, de la Miyar, Jose Roberto Balmori, Rodriguez, Abel,Silverio-Murillo, Adan,"COVID-19 and Women’s Well-Being"