Canadians are lonelier, more isolated and less satisfied using video chat platforms to socialize this year compared to 2019, according to research by the Vancouver-based Angus Reid Institute.
The new study, “Isolation, Loneliness, and COVID-19: Pandemic leads to sharp increase in mental health challenges, social woes,” offers evidence that the steep drop this year in community activity, including volunteering, attending live concerts and visiting local community centres, due to the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on Canadians’ emotional and mental well-being.
Researchers compared data on social isolation and loneliness from 2020 with similar data collected in early 2019 and found the percentage of Canadians who identified as suffering from both loneliness and social isolation this year has increased to 33 per cent from 23 per cent. Meanwhile, the share of people suffering from neither loneliness nor isolation has dropped to 12 per cent from 22 per cent.
“Canadians’ interactions with nearly every social group in their lives have diminished during the pandemic,” the study states. “At the community level, nearly all activities outside of socializing with neighbours have evaporated.”
While researchers found Canadians have made an effort to socialize more with neighbours this year, participation in “enriching” community-oriented clubs and volunteer opportunities has plummeted. In 2019, more than half of Canadians surveyed said they had volunteered for community clubs or groups. This summer, only one out of five did.
With fewer opportunities to socialize in-person, many people, especially those 55 and up, are using technology to stay connected. Among this group, the study found the usage of video calling apps has increased to 55 per cent this year from 36 per cent in 2019.
That said, Canadians using video calling apps are getting less out of the platforms than in 2019. Only 47 per cent of people using video calling said it makes them feel more connected to friends and family, compared to 71 per cent last year.
“Unfortunately, while video calling is appreciated, the percentage of those saying it is making them feel truly connected has plummeted as usage has increased,” the study’s authors wrote.
As Canadians have become more isolated, they are also increasingly raising concerns about their mental health. This year, 53 per cent of people surveyed said their mental health was either good or very good, compared to 67 per cent last year.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, being in spaces like forests, gardens and parks can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol while raising happiness-promoting endorphin levels and dopamine production. Being outside also exposes us to sunlight and Vitamin D, which helps regulate sleep and promotes exercise, improving quality of life.
Ontarians in COVID-19 hot spots might not be allowed to gather indoors with members of other households for the next few months, so this could be a good year to invest in some new or used cold weather layers and try embracing winter with friends and family — while following public health guidelines around physical distancing.
If you have a plan for doing something outside that takes the edge off the winter blues this year, we’d love to know about it.
Let us know in the comments below, or email mdelaire@toronto.com.
Canadians are lonelier, more isolated and less satisfied using video chat platforms to socialize this year compared to 2019, according to research by the Vancouver-based Angus Reid Institute.
The new study, “Isolation, Loneliness, and COVID-19: Pandemic leads to sharp increase in mental health challenges, social woes,” offers evidence that the steep drop this year in community activity, including volunteering, attending live concerts and visiting local community centres, due to the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on Canadians’ emotional and mental well-being.
Researchers compared data on social isolation and loneliness from 2020 with similar data collected in early 2019 and found the percentage of Canadians who identified as suffering from both loneliness and social isolation this year has increased to 33 per cent from 23 per cent. Meanwhile, the share of people suffering from neither loneliness nor isolation has dropped to 12 per cent from 22 per cent.
“Canadians’ interactions with nearly every social group in their lives have diminished during the pandemic,” the study states. “At the community level, nearly all activities outside of socializing with neighbours have evaporated.”
While researchers found Canadians have made an effort to socialize more with neighbours this year, participation in “enriching” community-oriented clubs and volunteer opportunities has plummeted. In 2019, more than half of Canadians surveyed said they had volunteered for community clubs or groups. This summer, only one out of five did.
With fewer opportunities to socialize in-person, many people, especially those 55 and up, are using technology to stay connected. Among this group, the study found the usage of video calling apps has increased to 55 per cent this year from 36 per cent in 2019.
That said, Canadians using video calling apps are getting less out of the platforms than in 2019. Only 47 per cent of people using video calling said it makes them feel more connected to friends and family, compared to 71 per cent last year.
“Unfortunately, while video calling is appreciated, the percentage of those saying it is making them feel truly connected has plummeted as usage has increased,” the study’s authors wrote.
As Canadians have become more isolated, they are also increasingly raising concerns about their mental health. This year, 53 per cent of people surveyed said their mental health was either good or very good, compared to 67 per cent last year.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, being in spaces like forests, gardens and parks can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol while raising happiness-promoting endorphin levels and dopamine production. Being outside also exposes us to sunlight and Vitamin D, which helps regulate sleep and promotes exercise, improving quality of life.
Ontarians in COVID-19 hot spots might not be allowed to gather indoors with members of other households for the next few months, so this could be a good year to invest in some new or used cold weather layers and try embracing winter with friends and family — while following public health guidelines around physical distancing.
If you have a plan for doing something outside that takes the edge off the winter blues this year, we’d love to know about it.
Let us know in the comments below, or email mdelaire@toronto.com.
Canadians are lonelier, more isolated and less satisfied using video chat platforms to socialize this year compared to 2019, according to research by the Vancouver-based Angus Reid Institute.
The new study, “Isolation, Loneliness, and COVID-19: Pandemic leads to sharp increase in mental health challenges, social woes,” offers evidence that the steep drop this year in community activity, including volunteering, attending live concerts and visiting local community centres, due to the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on Canadians’ emotional and mental well-being.
Researchers compared data on social isolation and loneliness from 2020 with similar data collected in early 2019 and found the percentage of Canadians who identified as suffering from both loneliness and social isolation this year has increased to 33 per cent from 23 per cent. Meanwhile, the share of people suffering from neither loneliness nor isolation has dropped to 12 per cent from 22 per cent.
“Canadians’ interactions with nearly every social group in their lives have diminished during the pandemic,” the study states. “At the community level, nearly all activities outside of socializing with neighbours have evaporated.”
While researchers found Canadians have made an effort to socialize more with neighbours this year, participation in “enriching” community-oriented clubs and volunteer opportunities has plummeted. In 2019, more than half of Canadians surveyed said they had volunteered for community clubs or groups. This summer, only one out of five did.
With fewer opportunities to socialize in-person, many people, especially those 55 and up, are using technology to stay connected. Among this group, the study found the usage of video calling apps has increased to 55 per cent this year from 36 per cent in 2019.
That said, Canadians using video calling apps are getting less out of the platforms than in 2019. Only 47 per cent of people using video calling said it makes them feel more connected to friends and family, compared to 71 per cent last year.
“Unfortunately, while video calling is appreciated, the percentage of those saying it is making them feel truly connected has plummeted as usage has increased,” the study’s authors wrote.
As Canadians have become more isolated, they are also increasingly raising concerns about their mental health. This year, 53 per cent of people surveyed said their mental health was either good or very good, compared to 67 per cent last year.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, being in spaces like forests, gardens and parks can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol while raising happiness-promoting endorphin levels and dopamine production. Being outside also exposes us to sunlight and Vitamin D, which helps regulate sleep and promotes exercise, improving quality of life.
Ontarians in COVID-19 hot spots might not be allowed to gather indoors with members of other households for the next few months, so this could be a good year to invest in some new or used cold weather layers and try embracing winter with friends and family — while following public health guidelines around physical distancing.
If you have a plan for doing something outside that takes the edge off the winter blues this year, we’d love to know about it.
Let us know in the comments below, or email mdelaire@toronto.com.