Insights West has released a new poll detailing how British Columbians are coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.
In their final poll of the year, Insights West asked more than 800 BC residents various questions about how the pandemic had affected them so far.
Of these, 51% reported that on a personal and emotional level they felt that they were doing a ‘good’ job at coping, while 15% went so far as to say they were doing an ‘excellent’ job coping. 27% reported that they were doing ‘fair’ and only 7% said they were coping poorly.
According to the data gathered by Insights West, the pandemic has had a disproportionately negative effect on certain segments of society. Females were more likely to provide a rating of ‘poor’ or ‘fair’ – 41% vs. 27% of males, as did those with lower incomes, with 40% of households with incomes less than $75K per year reporting ‘poor’ or ‘fair’ compared to 30% in households earning more than $75K per year.
A person’s age also seemed to make a difference in how well they were managing during the pandemic. 40% of 18 – 34-year-olds reported they were doing ‘fair’ or ‘poorly’ compared to 38% of those 35 – 54 years old and 26% of those 55+.
A list of 23 possible positive outcomes of the pandemic was compiled and those surveyed were asked to rate whether they had experienced a positive or negative outcome.
79% felt that they had developed ‘more appreciation for friends and family’, with 39% of those feeling that that was a ‘major positive outcome’. Coming in close behind that, according to 70% of those polled, was ‘learning to be more grateful’ and ‘more focus on what is really important in life’ (68%).
In a list of 18 things that British Columbians miss most as a result of the pandemic, ‘visiting/seeing friends’ came out on top at 96%, followed by ‘visiting/seeing family’ at 90%. Third on the list at 89% was ‘eating at restaurants’. The fourth and fifth most missed activities were travelling in Canada and abroad, according to 87% and 78%, respectively.
With many companies transitioning to having their employees working from home, only 32% of those polled said they miss going to the office.
Perhaps most surprising was the fact that 64% reported that a positive income of the pandemic was that they ‘saved more money’ or ‘spent more carefully’ (62%).
“In a news world that has been plagued by bad news since the pandemic began, it is refreshing to attach some positive outcomes associated with our lives in 2020,” said Steve Mossop, president of Insights West.
“What is interesting to note is the heightened state of being and meditative elements that made their way up the list of aspects that people have experienced as a positive outcome as a result of these trying times. Elements such as gratitude, appreciation, reflection, relationships and personal growth can be attributed to the pandemic.”
