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Mental Health and Economic Concerns from March to May during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada

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  • Zajacova, Anna
  • Jehn, Anthony
  • Stackhouse, Matthew
  • Choi, Kate H.
  • Denice, Patrick
  • Haan, Michael
  • Ramos, Howard

Abstract

Background The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the psychological wellbeing of populations worldwide. In this study, we assess changes in mental health during the early months of the pandemic in Canada and examine its relationship with another prominent problem during this time, economic concerns. Methods Analyses were based on two nationally representative cross-sectional surveys from the Canadian Perspectives Survey Series (N=4,627 in March and 4,600 in May). We described the changes in mental health and economic concerns between March and May, and assessed the relationship between the two characteristics. Results Mental health declined significantly during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic: the proportion of Canadian adults who reported only good/fair/poor mental health grew from 46% to 52% from March to May. Economic concerns including food insecurity were an important correlate of ‘bad’ mental health, as was younger age, female gender, and Canada-born status. Contrary to expectations, however, economic concerns lessened during this time frame. Conclusions These findings suggest that policies to mitigate economic stress, such as Canada’s Emergency Response Benefit, may have eased mental health deterioration in early pandemic months through a reduction in financial hardship. Interventions to increase the economic security of the population will have far-reaching consequences in terms of improved mental health, and should be continued throughout the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Zajacova, Anna & Jehn, Anthony & Stackhouse, Matthew & Choi, Kate H. & Denice, Patrick & Haan, Michael & Ramos, Howard, 2020. "Mental Health and Economic Concerns from March to May during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada," SocArXiv 76me2, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:76me2
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/76me2
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    1. Asada, Yukiko & Grignon, Michel & Hurley, Jeremiah & Stewart, Samuel A. & Smith, Nathan K. & Kirkland, Susan & McMillan, Jacqueline & Griffith, Lauren E. & Wolfson, Christina & Raina, Parminder, 2023. "Trajectories of the socioeconomic gradient of mental health: Results from the CLSA COVID-19 Questionnaire Study," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    2. Tasos Stylianou & Konstantinos Ntelas, 2023. "Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Socioeconomic Aspects in Greece," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-21, January.
    3. Louise C. Mâsse & Iyoma Y. Edache & Mark Pitblado & Sarah M. Hutchison, 2021. "The Impact of Financial and Psychological Wellbeing on Children’s Physical Activity and Screen-Based Activities during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-11, August.
    4. Kathrin Durizzo & Edward Asiedu & Antoinette van der Merwe & Isabel Günther, 2022. "Economic Recovery but Stagnating Mental Health During a Global Pandemic? Evidence from Ghana and South Africa," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 68(2), pages 563-589, June.

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