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.