Covid-19 social and economic disruptions, mental health, and coping behaviours among young Canadians

A structural equation model

Bibliographic Data

ID13899596
AuthorsOgochukwu Kelechi Onyeso (0000-0002-8821-4075, University of Lethbridge, corresponding author), Adébiyi Germain Boco (0009-0000-1899-9957, University of Lethbridge), Kamrul Islam (0000-0001-8329-5366, University of Lethbridge), Md Kamrul Islam (0000-0002-5401-5529, University of Lethbridge), Alexander Bilson Darku (0000-0001-8723-9927, University of Lethbridge), Alexander Darku (University of Lethbridge), Lars Hallstrom (0009-0005-1001-2384, University of Lethbridge)
Year2025
Volume30
Issue1
Publication date2025-01-09
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Adolescence and Youth (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0267-3843 • E-ISSN: 2164-4527
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/02673843.2025.2451674
OpenAlexW4406225491
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited45

The COVID-19 pandemic increased the prevalence of mental health disorders among youths. This study explored the association between COVID-19’s social and economic disruptions, mental health disorders, and coping behaviours among youths using Statistics Canada’s COVID-19 and Mental Health data. The study included 895 participants aged 18–24 years (52.9% women). Social and economic disruptions, healthy and unhealthy coping behaviours, and mental health severity (MHS) latent variables were delineated through exploratory factor analysis. Structural equation modelling revealed that social disruptions significantly increased the MHS (β = 0.77, p < 0.001), as well as healthy (β = 0.25, p < 0.001) and unhealthy (β = 0.54, p < 0.001) coping behaviours. Similarly, economic disruption was associated with an increase in healthy coping behaviours (β = 0.14, p = 0.043). Healthy coping behaviours (β=-0.08, p = 0.047) and positive coping skills (mastery) (β = -0.26, p < 0.001) were associated with a reduction in MHS. Positive coping behaviours mediated the social impact of COVID-19 on youth MHS; negative behaviours (substance use) had no significant mediation effect

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Coping (psychology · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Developmental psychology · Disease · Infectious disease (medical specialty · Mental health · Psychiatry · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 · Structural equation modeling · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Virology