By Haizhu Song

Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University

https://doi.org/10.55894/dv4.13

Abstract

This study examines gender differences in healthcare satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States using data from the 2021-2022 General Social Survey (GSS). Although existing literature generally points to the disadvantages women face in terms of healthcare access and health outcomes, this study assesses gender differences in satisfaction with the U.S. healthcare system, controlling for health conditions. This study is the first to systematically assess gender differences in healthcare satisfaction during an epidemic from a quantitative perspective using large-scale representative data, filling a gap in the existing literature on this critical issue. Bivariate and multivariate analyses of the article showed no statistically significant relationship between gender and healthcare satisfaction, challenging the hypothesis that women are less satisfied. However, the findings also suggest that it is difficult to capture small gender differences by relying solely on broad satisfaction metrics. Future research could consider introducing more specific variables and exploring the interaction between gender and socioeconomic factors. The results of the study not only provide data-based insights for policymakers, but also provide a quantitative foundation for achieving gender equity in the U.S. health system.