Evaluating the mental health status, help-seeking behaviors, and coping strategies of Canadian essential workers versus non-essential workers during COVID-19: a longitudinal study

ABSTRACT

Objective

This study examined mental health symptoms, help-seeking, and coping differences between Canadian essential workers (EWs) versus non-EWs, as well as common COVID-related concerns and longitudinal predictors of mental health symptoms among EWs only.

Design

An online, longitudinal survey (N = 1260; response rate (RR) =  78.5%) assessing mental health and psychosocial domains amongst Canadian adults was administered during the first wave of COVID-19 with a six-month follow-up (N = 821; RR = 53.7%).

Methods

Cross tabulations and chi-square analyses examined sociodemographic, mental health, and coping differences between EWs and non-EWs. Frequencies evaluated common COVID-related concerns. Linear regression analyses examined associations between baseline measures with mental health symptoms six months later amongst EWs.

Results

EWs reported fewer mental health symptoms and avoidance coping than non-EWs, and were most concerned with transmitting COVID-19. Both groups reported similar patterns of help-seeking. Longitudinal correlates of anxiety and perceived stress symptoms among EWs included age, marital status, household income, accessing a psychologist, avoidant coping, and higher COVID-19-related distress.

Conclusions

COVID-19 has had a substantial impact on the mental health of Canadian EWs. This research identifies which EWs are at greater risk of developing mental disorders, and may further guide the development of pandemic-related interventions for these workers.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• essential workers
• mental health
• coping
• help-seeking
• longitudinal study

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the COVID Survey Canada research team for their contributions to the survey development.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

Data from this study are not available publicly due to their sensitive nature. Please contact Dr. Renée El-Gabalawy for further inquiries.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the University of Manitoba Start-Up Fund (El-Gabalawy & Mota).