COVID‐19–related stressors, family functioning and mental health in Canada: Test of indirect effects

• Published date: 01 April 2022
• Author: Jayashree Mohanty,Srinivasan Chokkanathan,Amy M. Alberton
• Date: 01 April 2022
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12635

RESEARCH

COVID-19–related stressors, family functioning and

mental health in Canada: Test of indirect effects

Jayashree Mohanty

1

|Srinivasan Chokkanathan

2

|Amy M. Alberton

3

1

School of Social Work, University of

Windsor, Windsor, Canada

2

Department of Social Work, FASS, National

University of Singapore, Singapore

3

School of Social Work, Wichita State

University, Wichita, Kansas, United States

Correspondence

Jayashree Mohanty, School of Social Work,

University of Windsor, 167 Ferry Street,

Windsor, ON, Canada N9A 0C5.

Email: jmohanty@uwindsor.ca

Funding information

WE-SPARK Health Institute and University of

Windsor, Grant/Award Number: Igniting

Discovery Rapid Response COVID-19

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine how

family relationships relate to stress and mental health dur-

ing the COVID-19 pandemic response in Ontario,

Canada.

Background: Generally, families are pillars of strength

during times of stress and burden. However, enduring

stressors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may chal-

lenge the cohesion and caregiving functions of fami-

lies. Researchers are just beginning to explore stressors

associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, family func-

tioning, and mental health in the general population.

Rooted in stress process theory, the current study dis-

entangles the complex pathways through which

COVID-19-pandemic–related stressors and family

cohesion and family conflict are associated with the

mental health of the general population in Ontario,

Canada.

Method: Data were collected using an online survey from

April 22, 2020, to May 22, 2020. Through convenience

sampling, 933 individuals were recruited from the general

population in Ontario, Canada.

Results: Findings suggest that COVID-19-pandemic–

related stressors are associated with anxiety directly and

indirectly through eroding family cohesion and exacerbat-

ing family conflicts.

Conclusion: By looking into family cohesion and

family conflicts simultaneously, this investigation has

taken a nuanced approach to studying the influence

of COVID-19-pandemic–related stressors on family

functioning.

Implications: These findings suggest that efforts to assist

families in bolstering cohesiveness may be helpful. Fur-

ther, diminishing family conflicts, especially during com-

munity or global disasters, such as epidemics, pandemics,

Received: 25 September 2020Revised: 2 July 2021Accepted: 9 September 2021

DOI: 10.1111/fare.12635

© 2022 National Council on Family Relations.

Family Relations. 2022;71:445–462.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fare 445

or natural disasters, should be a focus in both practice and

future research.

KEYWORDS

Canada, COVID-19, family functioning, mental health, stressors

Pandemics, such as that related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), engender psychoso-

cial and economic stressors that potentially lead to poor mental health outcomes character-

ized by anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and even suicide (Brooks et al., 2020; Dsouza

et al., 2020; Wan et al., 2020). The COVID-19 pandemic is a traumatic stressor (Bridgland

et al., 2021), and it has exacerbated mental health problems directly and indirectly.

Although the direct effects of COVID-19-pandemic–related stressors on mental health have

been widely studied, the mediating mechanisms involved in the COVID-19-pandemic–

related stressors and mental health linkage remain largely unexplored. One potential path-

way through which COVID-19-pandemic–related stressors might be related to mental

health is through taxing and eroding social resources, such as family relationships. In

general, families are considered pillars of strength during stress and strain. However,

long-standing and severe stressors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, might undermine the

solidarity and caregiving functions of families. No singular definition exists for family.

However, a central feature of family is a shared family relationship, within which family

cohesion and conflict are important. These two factors are the focus of this study.

The influence of COVID-19-pandemic–related stressors on sociofamilial functioning is a

double-edged sword. On one hand, the pandemic and lockdown measures have provided

opportunities for people to improve their family relationships and cohesiveness. On the

other hand, existing family conflicts and discord have surfaced as individuals are required

to stay, and perhaps work, in the confines of their home. During the COVID-19 pandemic,

spikes in family conflicts and domestic violence have been extensively reported (Daya &

Azpiri, 2020; McLaren et al., 2020; Statistics Canada, 2020b). Hitherto, little information

existed on COVID-19-pandemic–related stressors, family functioning, and mental health in

the general population.

Evidence suggests the relationship between family functioning and mental health is

not straightforward. A recent study conducted in Spain related to family functioning dur-

ing lockdown showed mixed results (Günther-Bel et al., 2020). They found relationship

quality, including both cohesion and family conflict, was significantly associated with

psychological distress. Moreover, a pre-COVID-19 study found strong family cohesion

with the presence of family cultural conflict was related to higher psychological distress

(Rivera et al., 2008). These findings supported one of the main assumptions underlying

the family cohesion–conflict model, which states that family cohesion and conflicts are

important component of family relations, particularly for enhancing quality of life

(Lowenstein et al., 2007).

During a major crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, when individuals are at points of transi-

tion, such as working home while taking care of personal and family needs and learning new

technology, more negative and ambivalent feelings may emerge (Wilson et al., 2003). This study

examines how family relationships relate to stress and mental health during COVID-19 in

Ontario, Canada. More specifically, the current study disentangles the complex pathways

through which COVID-19-pandemic–related stressors and family functioning (family cohesion

and family conflicts) are associated with the mental health of the general population in Ontario,

Canada. This line of enquiry is vital because the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families

might be long-standing, and therefore, findings from this study may help inform family-centric

interventions.

446 FAMILY RELATIONS