The Unique Impacts of COVID-19 on Low-Income Canadian Mother’s Mental
Health Profiles: A Latent Transition Analysis
- Samantha Burns,
- Calpanaa Jegatheeswaran,
- Christine Barron,
- Michal Perlman
Samantha Burns
University of Toronto Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Author ProfileCalpanaa Jegatheeswaran
University of Toronto Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Author ProfileChristine Barron
University of Toronto Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Author ProfileAbstract
There is evidence of an overall decline in maternal mental health in the
wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is also heterogeneity in
maternal responses. A latent transition analysis was conducted to
identify profiles of anxiety, depression, and stress among 289
low-income mothers. Using these identified profiles, we examined the
transitional patterns between profiles before and during COVID-19 and
the sociodemographic and familial factors related to these profiles. A
three-profile solution was identified prior to COVID-19, and a
four-profile solution during COVID-19, with some profiles exhibiting
qualitatively different defining characteristics. Latent transition
analyses found diverse patterns of mental health shifts after the onset
of COVID-19. However, mothers with better mental health prior to
COVID-19 tended to have the most stable mental health during COVID-19.
In contrast, mothers who were highly stressed prior to COVID-19 were
equally likely to improve or decline after the onset of the pandemic. In
addition, the relationships between ethnicity, parenting practices,
child temperament, and mental health were significantly related to
maternal mental health. These findings describe mothers' experiences and
areas where policymakers and practitioners can tailor support to
low-income mothers.