Reports on Disability and Accessibility in Canada
Social connections among persons with and without mental health-related disabilities, 2020
by Yasmin Strautins and Carrly McDiarmid
Key findings
- Persons with mental health-related disabilities were less likely than those without mental health-related disabilities to have three or more close friends and relatives.
- Those with mental health-related disabilities were also less likely to have ten or more local contacts.
- Level of satisfaction with contact with friends and with relatives was lower for persons with mental health-related disabilities than persons without mental health-related disabilities.
- One-third of persons with mental health-related disabilities were socially connected, meaning they had three or more close friends, three or more close relatives and ten or more local contacts.
- Socially connected persons with mental health-related disabilities were more likely to report positive ratings for self-rated mental health and general health, to be satisfied with life, and to have a strong sense of belonging to their community.
Introduction
Social networks play an integral role in providing both tangible and emotional support and can come from a variety of sources, including family, friends, neighbours, or colleagues. Being socially connected and receiving social support have been tied to improved physical and mental health outcomesNote Note , particularly among those with disabilities.Note Note Research has shown that those with disabilities related to mental health often have lower levels of social capital, compared to other disability types.Note Diverse and active social networks have been tied to higher well-being ratings among those with mental health-related disabilities.Note
The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on both social relationships and the mental health of Canadians. At different times during the pandemic, public health institutions called for physical distancing and limiting contact with persons outside one’s household, which changed how Canadians interacted with one another. Compared to before the pandemic, perceived mental health and life satisfaction declined for Canadians in 2020.Note Note Additionally, from 2019 to 2021, there was an increase in mental health-related disabilities among employed Canadians.Note
Using the 2020 General Social Survey (GSS), this report examines differences in social networks between those with and without mental health-related disabilities.Note In addition, among persons with mental health-related disabilities, social connectedness is explored by demographic, economic, and social factors and considered in the context of different measures of well-being. In this report, persons with a mental health-related disability are identified as persons whose daily activities are limited because of difficulties with an emotional, psychological, or mental health condition. The comparison group of persons without mental health-related disabilities, includes both those with other disability types and those without disabilities.
Persons with mental health-related disabilities have smaller social networks than those without mental health-related disabilities
Close relationships are an important part of daily life and help to create reliable personal networks to turn to for support. In the 2020 GSS, close relationships were defined as people who you feel at ease with, can talk to about what is on your mind, or call on for help.
The proportion reporting having three or more close friends varied by mental health-related disability status. Those with mental health-related disabilities (62.7%) were less likely to have three or more close friends, than those without mental health-related disabilities (68.1%; Chart 1).Note When looking at relatives that they feel close to, those with mental health-related disabilities (64.7%) were less likely to report having three or more such relatives, compared with those without mental health-related disabilities (73.8%).
Data table for Chart 1
| Social networks | Persons with mental health-related disabilities | Persons without mental health-related disabilities |
|---|---|---|
| percent | ||
| Three or more close friends | 62.7 | 68.1 |
| Three or more close relatives | 64.7 | 73.8 |
| Ten or more local contacts | 59.2 | 63.5 |
| Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey, 2020. | ||
While having people that one feels close to is key to social support, having at least some of these individuals who live in the same city or local community to provide instrumental help is also important. Persons with mental health-related disabilities (59.2%) were less likely to have ten or more local contacts, compared with persons without mental health-related disabilities (63.5%).
Weekly communication with friends online is more likely among those with mental health-related disabilities than those without mental health-related disabilities
In addition to the number of contacts a person has, the type and frequency of contact with these individuals can play a role in the quality of these connections. In terms of communication with friends on at least a weekly basis, persons with mental health-related disabilities were less likely to see their friends in person (33.9%) and to talk over the phone with their friends (38.1%), compared with persons without mental health-related disabilities (38.2%; 43.8%; Table 1). By contrast, those with mental health-related disabilities were more likely to have weekly communication with their friends by text (68.0%) and by email or online social networks (65.3%), than their counterparts without mental health-related disabilities (60.6%; 55.0%).
| Persons with mental health-related disabilities | Persons without mental health-related disabilities (reference category) | |
|---|---|---|
| percent | ||
| Contact with relatives | ||
| By text message | 62.9 | 64.7 |
| See in person | 31.0Note * | 35.0 |
| Talk over the phone | 50.5Note * | 60.7 |
| By e-mail or online social networks | 48.4 | 51.2 |
| Contact with friends | ||
| By text message | 68.0Note * | 60.6 |
| See in person | 33.9Note * | 38.2 |
| Talk over the phone | 38.1Note * | 43.8 |
| By e-mail or online social networks | 65.3Note * | 55.0 |
|
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There were no statistically significant differences between those with and without mental health-related disabilities in weekly communication with relatives by text message or by email or online social networks. Persons with mental health-related disabilities were less likely to have weekly contact in person (31.0%) or over the phone (50.5%) with their relatives, compared with persons without mental health-related disabilities (35.0%; 60.7%).
Satisfaction level for contact with both friends and relatives is lower for persons with mental health-related disabilities than those without mental health-related disabilities
Level of satisfaction with contact with friends and with relatives differed when examined by mental health-related disability status. Those with mental health-related disabilities (65.7%) were less likely to report being very satisfied or satisfied with their frequency of contact with their friends, compared with those without mental health-related disabilities (79.0%; Chart 2). Similar findings existed for communication with relatives, with almost two-thirds (63.9%) of persons with mental health-related disabilities and over three-quarters (78.9%) of persons without mental health-related disabilities reporting that they were very satisfied or satisfied with the frequency of communication with their relatives.
Data table for Chart 2
| Persons with mental health-related disabilities | Persons without mental health-related disabilities | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| percent | |||
| Satisfaction with communication with relatives | Very satisfied / satisfied | 63.9 | 78.9 |
| Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied | 25.2 | 15.6 | |
| Dissatisfied / very dissatisfied | 10.9 | 5.5 | |
| Satisfaction with communication with friends | Very satisfied / satisfied | 65.7 | 79.0 |
| Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied | 20.8 | 15.8 | |
| Dissatisfied / very dissatisfied | 13.5 | 5.3 | |
| Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey, 2020. | |||
Just over one-third of persons with mental health-related disabilities are socially connected
Stronger or more extensive social networks can make a person feel more socially connected. The ability to develop or maintain social networks can be difficult for those with disabilitiesNote , making them less likely to be able to tap into the benefits of these connections. Understanding the factors that may be associated with being socially connected can inform on the potential risk and protective factors that could influence the course of mental health-related disabilities. In this study, being socially connected is defined as having three or more close friends, three or more close relatives and having ten or more local contacts. In 2020, 34.6% of persons with mental health-related disabilities were socially connected, compared to 42.2% of those without mental health-related disabilities.
Among persons with mental health-related disabilities, there were many factors associated with social connection. Those with more severe mental health-related disabilities (23.0%) were less likely to be socially connected than those with less severe mental health-related disabilities (37.6%; Table 2). Differences emerged when looking at those with a mental health-related disability, but no other types of disability and those with a mental health-related disability and additional disability types.Note Persons with multiple disability types (31.2%) were less likely to be socially connected than those with one disability type related to mental health (40.7%).
| Socially connected | ||
|---|---|---|
| number | percent | |
| Severity of disability | ||
| Less severe (reference category) | 1,446,160 | 37.6 |
| More severe | 257,740 | 23.0Note * |
| Number of disability types | ||
| One disability related to mental health (reference category) | 738,170 | 40.7 |
| Multiple disability types, including mental health-related | 1,003,750 | 31.2Note * |
| Gender | ||
| Men (reference category) | 589,210 | 29.7 |
| Women | 1,155,670 | 37.9Note * |
| Age group | ||
| 15 to 24 years (reference category) | 616,660 | 47.3 |
| 25 to 34 years | 412,170 | 35.0Note * |
| 35 to 44 years | 283,590 | 30.6Note * |
| 45 to 64 years | 344,560 | 28.4Note * |
| 65 years and older | 88,970 | 21.1Note * |
| Geography | ||
| Rural area (reference category) | 224,870 | 33.3 |
| Population centre | 1,521,080 | 34.8 |
| Marital status | ||
| Married or common-law | 768,480 | 35.7 |
| Separated, divorced or widowed | 159,730 | 23.3Note * |
| Single, never married (reference category) | 817,000 | 37.1 |
| Educational attainment | ||
| High school graduation or less (reference category) | 715,090 | 33.9 |
| Some postsecondary education | 483,330 | 33.2 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 547,520 | 37.1 |
| Labour force status | ||
| Employed (reference category) | 1,090,520 | 38.6 |
| Unemployed | 214,400 | 37.8 |
| Not in the labour force | 400,860 | 25.8Note * |
Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey, 2020. |
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Social connectedness also varied by gender and age among persons with mental health-related disabilities. Among this group, women (37.9%) were more likely than men (29.7%) to be socially connected. In terms of age, youth with mental health-related disabilities (47.3%) were the most likely to be socially connected, while older adults with mental health-related disabilities (21.1%) were the least likely to be socially connected. These findings are consistent with previous research on social networks in the general population.Note Note
Differences in social connectedness were also observed by marital status and labour force status but not by educational attainment. Among persons with mental health-related disabilities, those who were married or common-law (35.7%) and those who were single (37.1%) were more likely to be socially connected than those who were separated, divorced, or widowed (23.3%). Employed persons with mental health-related disabilities (38.6%) were more likely to be socially connected than those not in the labour force (25.8%). Social connectedness did not vary between those with a high school diploma or less, some post-secondary education or those with a bachelor’s degree or higher among persons with mental health-related disabilities.
Time spent in local community is tied to being socially connected for persons with mental health-related disabilities
Exploring other social factors, such as time spent living in their local community, knowing people in their neighbourhood, meeting new people, and participation in groups or organizations, in relation to social connectedness, differences emerged among persons with mental health-related disabilities. Those who have lived in their city or local community for five years or more (38.3%) were more likely to be socially connected than those who have lived in their area for less than five years (29.8%; Table 3). Persons with mental health-related disabilities who indicated they know many or most of the people in their neighbourhood (40.1%) were more likely to be socially connected than those who know a few or none of the people in their neighbourhood (32.5%).
| Socially connected | ||
|---|---|---|
| number | percent | |
| Length of time respondent has lived in city or local community | ||
| Less than 5 years (reference category) | 300,440 | 29.8 |
| 5 years or more | 710,720 | 38.3Note * |
| Participated in group, organization or association - past 12 months | ||
| Yes | 1,169,240 | 42.0Note * |
| No (reference category) | 576,700 | 25.6 |
| Knows people in the neighbourhood | ||
| Most or many of the people | 526,160 | 40.1Note * |
| Few or none of the people (reference category) | 1,201,660 | 32.5 |
| Met new people - past month | ||
| Yes | 778,316 | 42.6Note * |
| No (reference category) | 954,269 | 30.1 |
Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey, 2020. |
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Making new social connections can be a way to broaden social networks and provide new opportunities for support. Among persons with mental health-related disabilities, a higher proportion of those who had met new people in the past month (42.6%) than those who had not (30.1%) were socially connected. Social connectedness was more likely among persons with mental health-related disabilities who participated in a group, organization, or association in the past year (42.0%), compared with those who did not (25.6%).
Socially connected persons with mental health-related disabilities are more likely to report positive ratings of self-rated mental health
Social support has been tied to the well-being of persons with disabilities.Note Research has shown that increased actual social support interactions and perceived social support has a positive association with physical functioning and a particularly strong association with mental functioning.Note Perceived social support has a strong association with life satisfaction scores as well.Note
Data from the 2020 GSS showed that socially connected individuals were more likely to respond positively to various wellbeing measures. Among persons with mental health-related disabilities, a higher proportion of socially connected individuals (61.6%) reported positive self-rated mental healthNote , compared with those who were not socially connected (49.1%; Chart 3). A similar pattern occurred for perceived general health statusNote , where socially connected persons with mental health-related disabilities (80.1%) were more likely to report positive health ratings than those who were not socially connected (66.6%).
Data table for Chart 3
| Well-being measure | Socially connected | Not socially connected |
|---|---|---|
| percent | ||
| Positive self-rated mental health | 61.6 | 49.1 |
| Positive self-rated general health | 80.1 | 66.6 |
| Satisfied with life | 74.4 | 53.1 |
| Strong sense of belonging | 68.6 | 54.2 |
| Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey, 2020. | ||
Life satisfaction and sense of belonging to the community also differed according to social connectedness among persons with mental health-related disabilities. Persons with mental health-related disabilities who were socially connected were more likely to be satisfied with life, compared to those who were not socially connected. Among persons with mental health-related disabilities, a higher proportion of socially connected individuals reported a strong sense of belonging to their local community (68.6%) than those who were not socially connected (54.2%).
Conclusion
Social networks differed between persons with and without mental health-related disabilities. Those with mental health-related disabilities were less likely to report having three or more close friends, three or more close relatives and ten or more contacts who live in the same city or local community as them. In terms of communication with their networks, persons with mental health-related disabilities were less likely to see both their friends and relatives in person and to talk over the phone with them on a weekly basis. Satisfaction level with the frequency of communication with close friends and relatives was lower for those with mental health-related disabilities than those without mental health-related disabilities.
In 2020, 34.6% of persons with mental health-related disabilities had three or more close friends, three or more close relatives and ten or more local contacts. A variety of factors were associated with social connectedness among this group, including gender, age, marital status, and labour force status. Additionally, living longer in their community and knowing their neighbours were linked to being socially connected. Similar links were present when looking at those who participated in a group, organization, or association and those who met at least one new person in the past month. Findings showed that, among persons with mental health-related disabilities, being socially connected was associated with higher levels of self-rated mental health, self-rated health, life satisfaction and sense of belonging, compared to those who were not socially connected.
In this analysis the group of persons without mental health-related disabilities included both those without disabilities and those with disabilities that were not related to mental health. There could be further information gained from disaggregating this group to compare the persons with mental health-related disabilities, to those with disabilities not related to mental health and those without disabilities. As data for this cycle were collected during the pandemic, further research could be conducted to compare data from the previous cycle of the survey to explore differences between before and during the pandemic. Additional next steps should consist of a more detailed look at intersectionality to better understand other factors that may exist between social connections, mental health-related disability, and well-being.
Data Source and Methodology
This report is based on data from the 2020 General Social Survey on Social Identity. The target population consisted of persons aged 15 and older living in Canada’s 10 provinces, excluding people living full-time in institutions and residents of First Nations reserves, and was conducted from August 2020 to February 2021. The total sample size for 2020 GSS was 34,044.
The 2020 GSS identified persons with disabilities using the Disability Screening Questions (DSQ), which are based on the social model of disability.Note The DSQ first measure the degree to which difficulties are experienced across 10 domains of functioning, then ask how often daily activities are limited by these difficulties. Only persons who report a limitation in their day-to-day activities are identified as having a disability. These questions identify ten distinct disability types and allow for the computation of a severity score for each disability type, as well as an overall severity score. It should be noted that for prevalence rates of disability, the Canadian Survey on Disability should be used as it is the official source for calculating rates of disability across Canada among persons aged 15 years and older.
The 2020 GSS was collected from 2020 to 2021 during a period when COVID-19 public health measures changed over time. The different restrictions occurring during this time could have affected data collection and results.
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