Pandemic a stress on relationships: poll

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This article was published 28/12/2020 (1889 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Now more than a month into code-red COVID-19 restrictions, many Manitobans are reporting strain in their personal lives, finding both relationships and personal finances challenged by the conditions of the pandemic.

According to a Probe research poll commissioned by the Free Press, nearly half of Manitobans (47 per cent) said their interpersonal relationships have worsened over the course of the pandemic, with less than one-in-five reporting an improvement in personal relationships.

“Our social connections, and in particular what we call social support, is really a key determinant of our health and wellness,” said Christopher Fries, a professor of health sociology at the University of Manitoba.

“So much of that now has been disrupted by the pandemic that it makes sense that half of people are saying that they feel negative effects from this disruption.”

Younger men were the most likely to report worsened interpersonal relationships. Fully half of men reported worse personal relationships compared to 45 per cent of women, and both men and women between the ages of 18 and 34 were more likely to report relationship struggles.

Those younger men are more vulnerable to social strain under pandemic restrictions, Fries explained, since their social support networks are often built around family and friends that they do not live with.

Those in lower income brackets — making less than $50,000 per year — were also more likely to report social strain, the poll found, with 57 per cent reporting damaged social relationships compared to 41 per cent of those making $100,000 per year or more.

“Socioeconomic status is a main determinant in how well you do in terms of your health and wellness,” said Fries.

“All of the solutions to this rely upon you having the resources: having the internet in your home, having at least one computer or iPad or smartphone, that are really socially graded. If you’re somebody of low economic status who can’t afford to do that stuff and you have no other alternatives you really are left to the mercy of isolation.”

On the financial front, 40 per cent of Manitobans reported worsening financial situations compared to less than one in five who said their financial situation improved. The majority, 43 per cent, reported no change.

According to University of Manitoba finance professor Shiu-Yik Au, those differences are split based on the sector one works in.

“There’s a real difference in how the pandemic is affecting people based on income, largely because certain jobs are very conducive to remote working,” Au said Friday.

Manitobans with lower levels of formal education and who entered the pandemic with lower household incomes were more likely to report financial difficulties, the poll found, with 57 per cent of those in the lowest income bracket reporting worsened finances as a result of the pandemic.

More than half of Indigenous Manitobans reported worsening financial situations compared to 38 per cent of non-Indigenous Manitobans.

“It’s usually related to the shutdown or slowdown of certain sectors that are badly affected by the pandemic, particularly tourism, hospitality and travel,” Au said.

Au said the pandemic recession has been dubbed a “she-cession” because it has “heavily fallen on women” who are more likely to work in the most affected fields, and whose hours may be constrained due to increased child-care responsibilities. Indeed, Probe found women were slightly more likely to say their finances had worsened, while men were slightly more likely to say finances had improved.

Those with higher incomes — earning $100K per year or more — were twice as likely to report improvement in their financial situation than those earning $50K per year or less.

Travel, dining out, bar trips, and other typical expenses are unavailable, Au explained, meaning wealthier individuals with more disposable income simply aren’t spending the money.

“Because interest rates have fallen, all asset prices: stocks, bonds and houses, have increased in value,” he added.

As for how long individual financial impacts might last, Au said experts are split. Some believe demand will be suppressed temporarily but demand will “completely bounce back” once restrictions lift; others suspect the economy will suffer “permanent damage” as education and workforce participation stall for an extended period of time and businesses shut their doors for good.

“It’s going to be a divergent economy. The wealthiest are going to have no impact or a positive impact… the people who were disadvantaged before are going to have further things complicating them.”

julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jsrutgers