Life stressors were significantly associated with depressive symptoms, anxiety, and suicidal ideation or intent, with challenges in paying household bills being the most strongly associated stressor, and these associations were exacerbated after the COVID-19 pandemic compared to during it.
Key Findings
Results
Participants experiencing negative impacts from life stressors had significantly higher odds of depressive symptoms, moderate to severe anxiety, and suicidal ideation or intent compared to those experiencing positive impacts.
Adjusted odds ratio for depressive symptoms: aOR 1.46 (95% CI: 1.28–1.66)
Adjusted odds ratio for moderate to severe anxiety: aOR 1.33 (95% CI: 1.15–1.53)
Adjusted odds ratio for suicidal ideation or intent: aOR 1.54 (95% CI: 1.36–1.74)
Analysis based on data from 19,950 participants in the Mental Health Research Canada cohort
Logistic regression models were used to analyze associations
Results
Challenges in paying household bills were most strongly associated with all three adverse mental health outcomes among specific life stressors examined.
Association with depressive symptoms: aOR 1.96 (95% CI: 1.62–2.36)
Association with moderate to severe anxiety: aOR 1.79 (95% CI: 1.45–2.21)
Association with suicidal ideation or intent: aOR 1.52 (95% CI: 1.28–1.82)
Other stressors examined included concerns about catching COVID-19, economic downturn and inflation, job loss, and social factors
Results
The odds of adverse mental health outcomes associated with negative impacts from life stressors were higher after the COVID-19 pandemic than during it.
Odds for depressive symptoms were aOR 1.62 after COVID-19 vs. aOR 1.29 during COVID-19 (p = 0.08)
Odds for moderate to severe anxiety were aOR 1.52 after COVID-19 vs. aOR 1.12 during COVID-19 (p = 0.03)
The difference in anxiety odds between pandemic periods reached statistical significance (p = 0.03), while the difference for depressive symptoms did not (p = 0.08)
Methods
The study used a large cohort design with data from 19,950 participants, excluding those under age 20 or missing key mental health variable data.
Data were drawn from the Mental Health Research Canada cohort
Primary outcomes were depressive symptoms, anxiety, and suicidal ideation or intent
Life stressors assessed included concerns about catching COVID-19, economic downturn and inflation, job loss, challenges in paying household bills, and social factors
Findings are subject to limitations of cross-sectional, self-reported data and unvalidated suicidality measures
Meshkat S, Han X, Lin Q, Tassone V, Janssen-Aguilar R, Lou W, et al.. (2026). Life stressors and mental health: Depressive symptoms, anxiety, and suicidal ideation or intent during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.. PloS one. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0340198