{"id":76475,"date":"2021-05-25T08:47:55","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T12:47:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/?p=76475"},"modified":"2025-08-19T09:36:24","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T13:36:24","slug":"carleton-researchers-track-stress-anxiety-and-depression-in-employees-with-children-during-the-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/2021\/carleton-researchers-track-stress-anxiety-and-depression-in-employees-with-children-during-the-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Carleton Researchers Track Stress, Anxiety and Depression in Employees with Children During the Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Carleton Researchers Track Stress, Anxiety and Depression in Employees with Children During the Pandemic\n <\/h1>\n \n \n <\/header>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

Researchers from Carleton University\u2019s Sprott School of Business<\/a> have tracked the mental health impact of the pandemic on Ontario working parents in a new report which suggests women have been hit harder and the age of children hasn\u2019t been a major factor in wellness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work, Family, Life During a Pandemic<\/em><\/a> focuses specifically on employed parents with dependent children, assessing three recognized indicators of well-being: perceived stress, anxiety and depressed mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Prof.
Prof. Linda Duxbury<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat is clear from the data we have collected is that the actions taken by governments and policy-makers throughout the pandemic have a notable impact on the mental health of those directly impacted,\u201d says co-author Prof. Linda Duxbury<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cAny time schools or daycares are closed, we see an immediate increase in the stress and anxiety levels of working parents.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The data was collected from weekly\/bi-weekly interviews conducted between March and December 2020 with Ontario parents between 35 and 55 having at least one child under the age of 19 living in their home. Ontario declared a state of emergency on March 17, 2020, began re-opening in May 19, entered \u201cstage two\u201d on June 12 and reintroduced lockdown measures on Oct. 9, 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is well-recognized that the pandemic is causing mental and emotional strain, which is often experienced as stress and anxiety,\u2019\u2019 says co-author Anita Grace<\/a>, a Sprott postdoctoral fellow.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cOur research shows that stress and anxiety levels are not constant, but rather that they fluctuate over time. Our research also suggests that stress and anxiety are not experienced equally\u2014women’s average stress and anxiety levels seem to be higher than men’s.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\"Postdoctoral
Postdoctoral Fellow Anita Grace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Among other findings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n