Peer-reviewed article
Prevalence and Sociodemographic Correlates of Mental Health Symptoms Among Canadian Youth: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Ogochukwu Kelechi Onyeso, Adebiyi G Boco, Md Kamrul Islam, Lars K Hallstrom ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined mental health symptoms among 896 Canadian young adults aged 18-24 years during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers found high rates of psychological distress (57%), depression (32%), anxiety (24%), and PTSD symptoms (13%). Women reported significantly higher anxiety and distress than men, and vulnerability was linked to lower income, weaker community belonging, and pre-existing mental health conditions. The findings highlight the need for targeted mental health support for this population.
Key points
- Psychological distress was the most common symptom, affecting 57% of participants
- Women reported significantly higher anxiety and psychological distress than men (p < 0.05)
- Lower household income, weaker community belonging, and lower life satisfaction were independently associated with greater symptom severity
- Pre-existing mental health disorders were associated with greater symptom severity
- 81% of participants lived in urban areas
Limitations
This cross-sectional study cannot establish causation or track changes over time. The sample was limited to young adults aged 18-24 years in Canada, so findings may not generalise to younger adolescents or other countries.
Abstract
BackgroundRecent data highlight problematic rates of mental health symptoms (MHS) among adolescents and young adults following the COVID-19 pandemic, with implications for early identification and clinical service provision. This study estimated the prevalence of MHS and its sociodemographic correlates among Canadian youths.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 896 iundividuals aged 18-24 years using data from Statistics Canada's Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health. Symptoms of anxiety, psychological distress, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed using validated self-report instruments. Analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square tests, two-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and multivariate linear regression.ResultsParticipants' mean (SD) age was 21.2 (2.0) years; 53% identified as women, and 81% lived in urban areas. Prevalence was highest for psychological distress (57.0%), followed by depression (31.6%), anxiety (23.7%), and PTSD symptoms (12.6%). Women reported higher anxiety and distress than men (p < 0.05). In multivariable analyses, female gender, non-essential worker status, poorer self-rated mental health, weaker community belonging, lower household income, lower life satisfaction, and pre-existing mental health disorder were associated with greater symptom severity (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe rising prevalence of mental health symptoms reflects gendered, socioeconomic, and psychosocial vulnerabilities, requiring trauma-informed clinical screening and equity-focused public health interventions for Canadian youth.