ORCID
J. Mitchell Vaterlaus, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7139-1457
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected women, particularly women of color, yet less is known about their recovery experiences following the end of the public health emergency. This exploratory mixed-methods study examined recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic among Black, Latina, and White women in the United States. Participants (N = 133) completed a survey that included a self-reported recovery measure and open-ended questions regarding their recovery experiences. A chi-square analysis indicated a significant association between race/ethnicity and recovery status, with Latina women more likely to report ongoing recovery than Black and White women. Codebook thematic analysis identified four themes: (1) Reclaiming Physical Health; (2) Assessing Risk: Protection and Change; (3) Agency Within Social Systems; and (4) Emotional Adaptation and Meaning Making. Findings suggest that COVID-19 pandemic recovery was not experienced as a return to pre-pandemic conditions but as a multidimensional and ongoing process of adaptation across physical, social, behavioral, and emotional domains. Implications for pandemic recovery planning and future research are discussed.
