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. 2021 Nov 17;18(22):12080.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph182212080.

Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Family Mental Health in Canada: Findings from a Multi-Round Cross-Sectional Study

Kimberly C Thomson  1   2 , Emily Jenkins  3 , Randip Gill  1 , Chris G Richardson  2   4 , Monique Gagné Petteni  1   2 , Corey McAuliffe  3 , Anne M Gadermann  1   2
Affiliations

Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Family Mental Health in Canada: Findings from a Multi-Round Cross-Sectional Study

Kimberly C Thomson et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Pandemic-related disruptions, including school, child care, and workplace closures, financial stressors, and relationship challenges, present unique risks to families' mental health. We examined the mental health impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic among parents with children <18 years old living at home over three study rounds in May 2020 (n = 618), September 2020 (n = 804), and January 2021 (n = 602). Data were collected using a cross-sectional online survey of adults living in Canada, nationally representative by age, gender, household income, and region. Chi-square tests and logistic regression compared outcomes between parents and the rest of the sample, among parent subgroups, and over time. Parents reported worsened mental health compared with before the pandemic, as well as not coping well, increased alcohol use, increased suicidal thoughts/feelings, worsened mental health among their children, and increases in both negative and positive parent-child interactions. Mental health challenges were more frequently reported among parents with pre-existing mental health conditions, disabilities, and financial/relationship stressors. Increased alcohol use was more frequently reported among younger parents and men. Sustained mental health challenges of parents throughout nearly a year of the pandemic suggest that intervention efforts to support family mental health may not be adequately meeting families' needs. Addressing family stressors through financial benefit programs and virtual mental health supports should be further explored.

Keywords: COVID-19; children; families; mental health; parents.

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Conflict of interest statement

Chris G. Richardson reports receiving personal fees from the University of British Columbia during the conduct of this study. All other authors report no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Proportion of parents compared with the rest of the sample reporting pandemic-related stressors, by study round (error bars represent 95% confidence intervals); (a) Financial concerns, (b) Worries about existing mental health problems becoming worse, (c) Relationship challenges, (d) Worries about domestic violence.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Parent-reported stressors in the past 2 weeks as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, for the overall parent sample. Inset: Parent-reported stressors among subgroups of parents. * Survey item not asked in round 1.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Parent-identified supports for coping with stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the past 2 weeks. * Survey item not asked in round 1.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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