tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can
. 2025 Jan;45(1):20-38.
doi: 10.24095/hpcdp.45.1.02. Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health
[Article in English, French]
Murray Weeks[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Danielle Marion[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Anne-Marie Robert[SUP] 1 [/SUP], R Nicholas Carleton[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
in English, French
Introduction: This study provides a descriptive overview of the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Canada, across sociodemographic characteristics, mental health-related variables and negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: Data were obtained from cycles 1 and 2 of the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health (SCMH), collected in fall 2020 (N = 14 689) and spring 2021 (N = 8032). The prevalence of PTSD was measured using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) Cross-sectional associations were quantified using logistic regression, while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics.
Results: The overall prevalence of PTSD was 6.9%. Factors associated with higher PTSD prevalence were female gender; younger age; lower income (females only); living in an urban area; frontline worker status or not being at work in the past week (males only); fair or poor mental health; a weak sense of community belonging; symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder; suicidal ideation; heavy alcohol use; daily cannabis use; increased alcohol and cannabis use since the start of the pandemic; decreased alcohol consumption since the start of the pandemic (males only); concerns about violence in the home; and negative impacts of the pandemic.
Conclusion: PTSD prevalence in Canada varies significantly across sociodemographic groups and is more common among those with indicators of lower mental health and well-being, as well as those more adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing and enhanced surveillance of PTSD in Canada is important to better understand and address the burden and impacts of this condition.
Keywords: PCL-5; SCMH; mental health; posttraumatic stress disorder; survey; symptoms.
. 2025 Jan;45(1):20-38.
doi: 10.24095/hpcdp.45.1.02. Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health
[Article in English, French]
Murray Weeks[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Danielle Marion[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Anne-Marie Robert[SUP] 1 [/SUP], R Nicholas Carleton[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 39817709
- DOI: 10.24095/hpcdp.45.1.02
in English, French
Introduction: This study provides a descriptive overview of the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Canada, across sociodemographic characteristics, mental health-related variables and negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: Data were obtained from cycles 1 and 2 of the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health (SCMH), collected in fall 2020 (N = 14 689) and spring 2021 (N = 8032). The prevalence of PTSD was measured using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) Cross-sectional associations were quantified using logistic regression, while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics.
Results: The overall prevalence of PTSD was 6.9%. Factors associated with higher PTSD prevalence were female gender; younger age; lower income (females only); living in an urban area; frontline worker status or not being at work in the past week (males only); fair or poor mental health; a weak sense of community belonging; symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder; suicidal ideation; heavy alcohol use; daily cannabis use; increased alcohol and cannabis use since the start of the pandemic; decreased alcohol consumption since the start of the pandemic (males only); concerns about violence in the home; and negative impacts of the pandemic.
Conclusion: PTSD prevalence in Canada varies significantly across sociodemographic groups and is more common among those with indicators of lower mental health and well-being, as well as those more adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing and enhanced surveillance of PTSD in Canada is important to better understand and address the burden and impacts of this condition.
Keywords: PCL-5; SCMH; mental health; posttraumatic stress disorder; survey; symptoms.