COVID-19-related stress and positive coping strategies among young adults in Canada and France: A latent class analysis

TL;DR

This study explores how young adults in Canada and France cope with stress during the pandemic and how these coping strategies relate to mental health outcomes.

Contribution

The study identifies distinct coping classes and their associations with mental health and socio-demographic factors in two countries.

Findings

Four coping classes were identified: high coping, socially engaged, self-care and healthy lifestyle, and low coping.

Young men and rural residents were more likely to belong to the low coping or self-care class.

Low coping classes reported higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.

Abstract

Although there is evidence describing how coping strategies can impact mental health outcomes and inequities among young adults, little is known about how different sub-groups of young adults engage with positive coping strategies and the association with mental health challenges. Data were drawn from an online cross-sectional survey (July–December 2021) of young adults aged 18–30 years who reported experiencing COVID-19-related stress in Canada (n=2288) and France (n=1891) during the second year of pandemic. Latent class analysis was used to identify classes with similar coping strategies. Multinomial and logistic regression models were performed in each country to examine differences between these classes in socio-demographic characteristics and mental health. Four classes were identified: high coping (33%), socially engaged (47.1%), self-care and healthy lifestyle (10.1%), and low coping (9.8%). In both countries, young men were more likely to belong to the low coping class and rural residents had an increased likelihood of belonging to the self-care and healthy lifestyle class. Differences between coping classes in socio-demographic characteristics varied by country. In Canada, those who reported financial difficulties were more likely to belong to the self-care and healthy lifestyle and low coping classes, while, in France, descendants of immigrants had increased odds of belonging to the low coping class. Compared to the high coping class, the self-care and healthy lifestyle and low coping classes were more likely to perceive not coping well with stress and reported higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Our findings highlight that specific sub-groups of young adults (men, rural, racialized, economically disadvantaged) may be less likely to engage in positive coping strategies and may experience higher risk of mental health challenges. These findings also underscore the importance of investigating the influence of contextual factors on young adults’ ability to adopt positive coping strategies.

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