Stress Boosts Long COVID Symptoms in Mothers, Support May Ease Burden

Stress Linked to Long COVID Among Mothers of Young Children, Study Finds

A recent survey of 2,500 American mothers reveals a connection between high stress levels and the likelihood of experiencing or being diagnosed with post‑acute sequelae of SARS‑CoV‑2 infection, commonly known as Long COVID.

Survey Design and Participant Profile

Conducted in July 2023, the online questionnaire targeted women who had previously contracted COVID‑19 and were caring for children under the age of five. Researchers from Stony Brook University, led by Marci Lobel and doctoral candidate Darya Likhacheva, approached the data from a health‑psychology perspective.

Principal Outcomes

• Approximately one‑in‑ten respondents reported lingering symptoms consistent with Long COVID without an official medical diagnosis.
• Only 1.2 % indicated they had received a formal diagnosis of the condition.
• Participants reporting elevated stress were more prone to both self‑identified and clinically confirmed Long COVID.
• Higher stress correlated with increased reports of fatigue, memory lapses, and shortness of breath.
• Mothers of three or more children reported a greater number of symptoms compared with those caring for one or two children.

Influence of Social Support

The analysis suggested that strong support networks—whether from partners, family, or friends—could dampen the association between stress and Long COVID symptoms. However, the researchers cautioned that this moderation effect appeared modest and warrants further investigation.

Expert Insight

“Although we cannot definitively determine whether stress drives the onset of Long COVID or emerges as a response to its symptom burden, our work highlights critical gaps in diagnosis and care for women whose experiences may go unnoticed by health providers,” explained Lobel, a professor of psychology at Stony Brook University. “The data also underscore how stress may contribute to existing gender imbalances in Long COVID outcomes.”

Broader Context and Implications

Previous research has documented that women often encounter dismissive attitudes within medical settings, leading to under‑recognition of various conditions. The current findings reinforce calls for gender‑sensitive strategies in the evaluation and management of Long COVID, acknowledging both psychosocial stressors and the role of supportive relationships.