The Unique Impacts of COVID-19 on Low-Income and Diverse Canadian Women’s Mental Health Profiles: A Latent Transition Analysis

Why did we do this study?

• The pandemic affected maternal mental health, but there is still limited knowledge about how these impacts vary across different mothers, especially those from low-income families
• This study explored variability in changes in maternal mental health (i.e., stress, anxiety, and depression) before and during the pandemic
• We also looked at how mothers’ parenting (i.e., hostility, overprotection, self-efficacy, and perceived impact) and child factors, such as their temperament (i.e., fear and anger) and mental health (i.e., emotional, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, and prosocial behavior) played a role in these changes

What did we do?

This study used data from 289 CCM mothers who reported on their own mental health, including stress, anxiety, and depression, before and during the pandemic.

We used a data analysis method called Latent Transition Analysis to identify and compare maternal mental health groups before and during the pandemic. This approach allowed us to track how profiles of maternal mental health changed from the Pre-COVID-19 to COVID-19 wave 1.

What did we find?

Before the pandemic the following three groups identified:

1. Below Clinical Concern (78%)
2. Stressed, Approaching Clinical Concern (16%)
3. Clinically Depressed and Highly Stressed (7%)

After the pandemic the following four groups identified:

1. Below Clinical Concern (49%)
2. Stressed, Approaching Clinical Concern (28%)
3. Clinically Depressed and Highly Stressed (11%)
4. Highest Clinical Concern (12%)

• There was a lot of variation in mothers’ mental health Pre-COVID-19 to during COVID, with most mothers experiencing worse mental health during COVID-19 wave 1
• Mothers with worse mental health were more over-protection both Pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19 wave 1
• Mothers who had worse mental health Pre-COVID-19 had children with higher levels of fear. During COVID-19 wave 1 mothers with worse mental health had children with higher levels of anger
• Almost all indicators of children’s mental health (i.e., emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity, and peer problems) were significantly related to maternal mental health at both time points

What does this mean?

• Maternal mental health responses to the pandemic were diverse, with most mothers experiencing mental health challenges during COVID-19 wave 1
• Children’s mental health and parenting are key factors in shaping maternal mental health outcomes
• Policymakers and clinicians can use this knowledge to tailor better interventions that support mothers and their families, particularly from low-income families during large-scale adversities