Changes in Household Debt Due to COVID-19 and Mental Health Concerns Among Adults in Ontario, Canada

Overview

Journal Int J Soc Psychiatry

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2022 Nov 14

PMID 36373945

Authors

Yeshambel T Nigatu

Tara Elton-Marshall

Hayley A Hamilton

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Canadian households experienced unexpected changes in their economic well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The extent of the impact of the pandemic on household debt and its effect on health and mental health remains unknown.

Aim: The aim of the study was to examine the associations of change in household debt due to COVID-19 with serious psychological distress (SPD) and general health measures.

Methods: Data were from the 2020 Monitor study, a repeated cross-sectional survey of adults 18 years and older in Ontario, Canada. The 2020 cycle employed a web-based panel survey of 3,033 adults. The survey included measures of change in household debt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mental and general health. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated from logistic regression models accounting for sociodemographic factors.

Results: Overall, 17.5% of respondents reported that their household debt increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such an increase in household debt was significantly associated with SPD (OR = 2.92, 95% CI, 2.05-4.16), fair/poor mental health (OR = 2.02, 95% CI, 1.59-2.56), frequent mental distress days (OR = 1.80, 95% CI, 1.31-2.48), fair/poor general health (OR = 1.93, 95% CI, 1.47-2.52), and suicidal ideation (OR = 3.71, 95% CI, 2.41-5.70) after adjusting for potential confounders including education, income and employment.

Conclusions: Household debt during the COVID-19 pandemic is an important determinant of health. Individuals who reported an increase in household debt due to COVID-19 were more likely to report serious mental health concerns including suicidal ideation. This suggests that debt-related interventions may be needed to alleviate the adverse effects of indebtedness on health.

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