ABSTRACT
Introduction: Due to the unprecedented impact of COVID-19, there is a need for research assessing pandemic-related challenges and stressors. The current study aimed to assess key concerns and general well-being among members of Canada's Defence Team, including Canadian Armed Forces personnel and members of the Department of National Defence (DND) Public Service. Methods: The COVID-19 Defence Team Survey was administered electronically to Defence Team staff in April and May of 2020 and was completed by 13 688 Regular Force, 5985 Reserve Force and 7487 civilian DND Public Service personnel. Along with demographic information, the survey included assessments of work arrangement, pandemic-related concerns, general well-being and social and organizational support. Weighted data (to ensure representation) were used in all analyses. Results: The majority of respondents were working from home, with a small minority unable to work due to restrictions. Though many concerns were endorsed by a substantial proportion of respondents, the most prevalent concerns were related to the health and well-being of loved ones. The majority of respondents reported their partner, family, supervisors, friends, colleagues and children provided general support. Half of the civilian defence staff and one-third of military respondents reported a decline in mental health. Women, younger respondents, those with dependents and, in some cases, those who were single without children were at risk of lower well-being. Conclusion: The pandemic has negatively impacted a substantial portion of the Defence Team. When responding to future crises, it is recommended that leaders of organizations provide additional supports to higher-risk groups and to supervisors who are ideally positioned to support employees during challenging times.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have the potential to not only adversely aff ect mental health in general but also to emphasize and widen disparities in mental health across demographic groups. In particular, research suggests that women have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic psychologically, socially, and economically. Methods: The COVID-19 Defence Team (DT) survey was designed to assess the impacts of the pandemic on DT members. The current study focused on the mental health of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Regular Force members and the impacts of gender and family status on key mental health outcomes. Results: Women were more likely to experience mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, and worse perceived mental health and stress since the start of the pandemic, compared with men. Most respondents with depression or anxiety experienced some degree of functional impairment. Although overall levels of functional impairment did not differ by gender, men with dependent children at home were more likely to experience functional impairment than those without children, whereas women with dependent children at home were less likely to report such impairment than those without children. Discussion: Th e findings provide a snapshot of the mental health of CAF Regular Force members early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Although most members were doing well, a notable minority were experiencing mental health issues at potentially clinically significant levels. Th e findings suggest the importance of considering gender, work, and family situation in understanding the mental health of military personnel during the pandemic. © 2021 Spandidos Publications. All rights reserved.