Ontario Adults’ Mental Health and Wellbeing During the First 16 Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study quantitatively assessed adults’ mental health and overall wellbeing over time during the first 16 months of the pandemic in Ontario, Canada. A total of 2,188 participants participated in the study and completed online questionnaires at three time points (baseline—April–July 2020; time 2—July–August 2020; and time 3—July–August 2021), which included demographic questions, the Mental Health Inventory (MHI), and the Personal Wellbeing Index-Adult (PWI-A). One-way repeated-measures ANOVAs revealed a statistically significant increase over time in participants’ mental health (MHI), as well as a significant decrease in their satisfaction with their standard of living, physical health, mental health, personal relationships, safety, community-connectedness, future security, and spirituality/religion (PWI-A). While participants’ mental health improved, their mean scores indicated the presence of mental health disorders. Generally speaking, over the first 16 months of the pandemic, the self-reported mental health of Ontario adults improved, while their perceived wellbeing declined.

Factors that contributed to Ontario adults’ mental health during the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic: a decision tree analysis

“…This study represents part of an ongoing, longitudinal, survey-based research project titled Health Outcomes for adults during and following the COVID-19 PandEmic (HOPE) , which was designed to assess adults’ lifestyle-related health behaviours and outcomes, including physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep, diet, mental health, wellbeing, and prosocial behaviour, during and following the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada ( Shillington et al, 2021 , 2022a , 2022b , 2023a , 2023b ). The current paper includes data collected at time point 1 (April 24–July 13, 2020) and time point 3 (July 29–August 30, 2021) to generate profiles of Ontario adults who were at more or less risk for the development of mental health problems during the first 16-months of the COVID-19 pandemic.…”