Report
HABIT Wave 1
National perspective on Canadians’ public health outcomes and individual, interpersonal, and systems-level factors
Impact Canada, Impact & Innovation Unit, Privy Council Office
Key Insights
Physical & Mental Health Outcomes: Most respondents rate their physical health (69%) and mental health (73%) as being "good," "very good," or "excellent,” meaning that the majority of respondents generally view themselves as being healthy. However, over 1 in 4 respondents rate their physical health (30%) and mental health (27%) as “fair” or “poor,” suggesting that there are meaningful health outcome disparities in Canada. Roughly half (51%) of respondents report having had a physical health condition at some point in their lives and a third (34%) have been diagnosed with or treated for a mental health condition at some point.
Health Services: 90% of respondents report having used at least one health service (e.g., doctor, dentist, or specialist) in the past year. Experiences with health services varied, with some respondents reporting positive experiences while others encountered poor service or lack of access. For example, a fifth of all respondents (21%) – and a third (33%) of young people aged 18 to 34 years old – report that they do not currently have a primary care provider, and nearly 1 in 10 respondents report having faced discrimination in the healthcare system.
Health Promotion & Substance: Use Many respondents report habits or behaviours that may negatively impact their health such as: substance consumption (36% consume alcohol and 17% smoke cigarettes or vape at least once per week); getting less than the recommended amount of sleep per night (35% sleep fewer than 7 hours); high rates of sedentary behaviour (61% sit for more than 5 hours daily); eating an unhealthy diet (15%); being unable to afford healthy food (19%); and missing some or all recommended health screenings (31%).
Infectious Disease & Vaccination: Consistent with flu vaccine intentions last year, just under half of respondents (47%) say they are "likely" to get a flu shot this coming year. 38% of respondents would get another dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible and 17% would get one but want to wait a bit first. 57% of respondents report knowing about, or having heard of, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). When provided with information on RSV, 56% of older respondents (55+) indicated that they would get an RSV vaccine to protect themselves from severe outcomes, 27% were unsure, and 17% would not get a vaccine. These findings suggest that knowledge gaps in the population may be a barrier to RSV vaccine uptake.
Views on the Public Health System: Many respondents believe that the health system is in crisis: three quarters (75%) of respondents either "somewhat" or "strongly agree" with this statement. When asked which improvements to the healthcare system should be prioritized, top choices are reducing emergency room wait times (70%), increasing access to primary care providers (68%), and reducing surgical and/or specialist wait times (66%).
Spotlight: Public Health & Climate Change: Two thirds of respondents report having experienced at least one extreme weather-related event in the past year, such as excessive heat, power outages due to weather and wildfires, and/or wildfire smoke. Half of respondents report being concerned about the health impacts of climate change (e.g., illness caused by poor air quality, water and food-related impacts, and illness caused by extreme heat), and half are anxious about the impacts of climate change on their health.
Background
Launched in September 2023, the Health, Attitudes, and Behavioural Insights Tracker (HABIT) Survey is a data collection tool designed to facilitate a better understanding of public health perspectives and outcomes in Canada at the individual, interpersonal, and systems levels. Co-led by Impact Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) Behavioural Science Office (BeSciO), this study aims to identify barriers and drivers that underlie Canadians’ health and well-being.
The HABIT Survey provides a flexible and scalable research infrastructure that allows for data collection based on emerging health priorities. Each survey wave collects data from a nationally representative sample of Canadians and includes a deep dive into one to two topical public health priority areas.
HABIT is designed to complement PHAC’s existing research and surveillance framework by supplementing ongoing research, collecting data on minimally-explored topics, and openly sharing data with federal partners, academic partners, and community stakeholders.
Methodology
Data collected:
September 27 to October 9, 2023
Sample Size:
2,049
Each survey wave collects data from a sample of 2,000 Canadians, gathering insights from different individuals each time. Respondents are a representative mix of Canadian adults aged 18 years and older and the results are adjusted using 2021 Statistics Canada census data to accurately reflect the population distribution in Canada. The study also includes an over-sample that varies from wave to wave consisting of additional participants from groups that are harder to reach or make up a relatively small proportion of the population.
Physical Health Outcomes
While most respondents report good physical health, many report their health is “fair” or “poor”
While most respondents say they are in good health, only 1 in 4 self-rated their physical health as “very good” or “excellent.” Notably, 30% report their physical health as “fair” or “poor”. Self-rated health did not vary significantly by age or gender. However, respondents with household incomes under $40K were more likely to report “poor” (12%, 2x the national average) or “fair” (29%) physical health, compared to the average, which suggests meaningful disparities in this outcome by income.Half of respondents report having experienced a health condition, a rate that grows with age
Just over half of respondents in the survey (51%) report having, or having had, one of the listed health conditions. The most frequently reported health conditions are hypertension/high blood pressure (20%), arthritis (19%), and obesity (13%). Reports of health conditions increase significantly by age, with 72% of those aged 18-34 reporting not having experienced any of the listed health conditions, compared to 57% of those aged 35-54 and 23% of those aged 55+.Most value taking care of their physical health, but 1/2 say some of their habits negatively impact their health
Most respondents “somewhat or strongly agree” that taking care of their physical health is important to them (85%) and that they know how to take care of their physical health (82%). However, slightly fewer respondents report that they know how to access services to improve their physical health (72%) and just over half (54%) indicate that their current habits negatively impact their physical health. 53% of respondents indicate that the majority of their peers prioritize their physical health.Mental Health Outcomes
Most respondents report having “good” mental health, while nearly 1 in 3 report it is “fair” or “poor”
At a similar rate to physical health ratings, 73% of respondents report having “good,” “very good,” or “excellent” mental health. Despite this, 27% of respondents report having “poor” or “fair” mental health. Self-reported mental health differs by age. Respondents aged 18-34 (36%) and 35-54 (30%) are more likely to report “poor” or “fair” mental health than respondents aged 55+ (18%).1/3 of respondents report having been diagnosed with, and/or treated for, a mental health condition
A third of respondents (34%) report having been diagnosed with or treated for at least one mental health condition at some point in their lives. The most frequently reported conditions are anxiety disorders (22%) and depressive disorders (16%). Older respondents are less likely to report having had a mental health condition, with 73% reporting not having experienced any of the listed conditions compared to 59% of those aged 35-54 and 54% of those aged 18-34. Women are more likely to report having been diagnosed with or treated for at least one mental health condition (38%) compared to men (28%).1/3 report that an immediate family member has had a mental health condition
31% of respondents report having a family member who has been diagnosed with, or treated for, a mental health disorder, with women (36%) being more likely than men (25%) to report this. 51% of respondents have either a personal or a family history of mental health disorders, and the presence of mental health disorder is associated with a family history of such. Of the 35% of respondents who report that they have, or have had, a mental health condition, 19% also have a family history of a mental health disorder. Of the 65% of respondents who report no personal history of mental health condition, 16% have a family history.Majority of respondents are generally satisfied with their life as a whole
16% of respondents indicate that they are “completely satisfied” with their life as a whole and 55% are “somewhat satisfied.” In contrast, 11% report being “somewhat dissatisfied” with their life as a whole and 4% are “completely dissatisfied.” respondents aged 55+ are more likely to be “completely” or “somewhat satisfied” (80%) than those aged 35-54 (66%) and 18-34 (66%). respondents with a household income under $40K are less likely to be “completely” or “somewhat satisfied” (57%) than the average Canadian (70%).1 in 5 respondents report rarely or never feeling optimistic about the future in the past two weeks
A fifth (22%) of respondents report “rarely” or “never” having felt optimistic about the future in the past two weeks, while 37% either “often” or “always” felt optimistic. Older respondents (55+) are more likely to report “often” or “always” feeling optimistic (41%), compared to those aged 35-54 (37%) and those aged 18-34 (31%). Low-income respondents are more likely to have low optimism about the future, with 30% of those with an income under $40K reporting that they “rarely” or “never” felt optimistic about the future over the past two weeks, compared to those with an income of $40-80K (24%), $80-100K (19%), and $100K+ (17%).While most respondents report having people to count on, nearly 1 in 5 could be lacking strong social supports
A large majority (81%) of respondents “somewhat” or “strongly” agree that they have people to count on in an emergency, but nearly 1 in 5 (19%) do not agree with this statement. Those aged 55+ are slightly more likely to agree that they have someone to count on in an emergency (86%) than those aged 35-54 (78%) and 18-34 (76%). However, disagreement with the statement was consistent across age groups. Low-income respondents ($40K) (73%) are less likely than the average Canadian (81%) to agree that they have someone to count on in an emergency.Over 1 in 3 say some of their habits negatively impact their mental health
Most respondents “somewhat” or “strongly” agree that taking care of their mental health is important to them (85%). respondents are slightly less likely to say they know how to take care of their mental health (74%) than their physical health (82%). Similarly, respondents are slightly less likely to indicate that they know how to access services to improve their mental health (64%) than their physical health (72%). Over a third (38%) indicate that their current habits negatively impact their mental health. Younger (52%) and middle-aged (42%) respondents are much more likely than older respondents (25%) to say their habits negatively impact their mental health. 49% of respondents say that the majority of their peers prioritize their mental health.Health Services
1 in 5 respondents do not have a primary care provider, with access varying by age
79% of respondents have access to a primary care provider, while 21% do not. Those aged 18-34 are less likely to have a primary care provider (66%), compared to those aged 35-54 (80%) and 55+ (86%). Residents of Quebec (69%) are also less likely than the average (79%) to have a primary care provider.90% of respondents used at least one health service in the past year
68% of respondents report having accessed a family doctor in the past year and 62% saw a dentist. 25% report having seen a medical specialist, 24% went to a walk-in clinic, and 19% went to a hospital emergency department. Respondents with a household income under $40K are less likely to have used health services in the past year (16% reported using none), compared to the average (9% reported using none). Those without a primary care provider were less likely to have used any health services except for walk-in clinics, which were used at a higher rate.Quality of experiences with services varied widely by type of health service
respondents are more likely to rate their experiences with alternative service providers, dentists (88%), medical specialists (88%), family doctors (80%), and mental health professionals (76%) as “good” or “excellent.” However, fewer respondents rate their experiences with walk-in clinics (53%) and emergency rooms (50%) as “good” or “excellent.” Of note, nearly 1 in 4 respondents who used emergency services in the past year report that the experience was “poor.”About 1 in 5 report being at least somewhat familiar with the new 9-8-8 Crisis Helpline
37% of respondents report being “somewhat familiar,” “familiar,” or “very familiar” with at least one phone-based mental health service. 22% report being at least “somewhat familiar” with the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline, while 61% were not at all familiar. Those with a current or past mental health condition – or with a family history of such – are more familiar with telephone-based mental health services, in general, as well as with the new 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline.Nearly 1 in 10 used or know someone who used a phone-based mental health service in the past year
9% of respondents used or know someone who used a phone-based mental health service in the past year, and 6% indicate that they wanted to use a phone-based service but ultimately did not. Those aged 55+ are less likely to have used a phone-based mental health service (4%), compared to those aged 35-54 (11%) and 18-34 (12%). Those with at least one mental health condition, as well as those with lower levels of self-reported mental health, are more likely to have used – or know someone who used – telephone-based mental health services in the past year.Nearly 1 in 10 respondents report having experienced discrimination in health services
9% of respondents either “somewhat” or “strongly agree” that they have received poorer levels of healthcare services than others due to gender, race, age, disability status, or appearance. Visible minority respondents (12%) and Indigenous respondents (18%) are more likely than white respondents (7%) to report having experienced discrimination in healthcare services. Younger respondents (aged 18-34) are more likely to report facing discrimination (14%) than respondents aged 35-54 (10%) and 55+ (5%). Respondents with a disability (12%) are also more likely to have faced discrimination in healthcare than those without a disability (8%).Substance Use & Health Promotion
Alcohol is the most commonly used substance
Overall, 74% of respondents report using at least one of the substances included in the survey, leaving roughly a quarter who report not using any of these substances. Note, however, that the list was not exhaustive (e.g., stimulants were not included here). In the past year, only 25% of respondents report not having had any alcohol, compared to 71% who had no cannabis, 76% who had no tobacco/nicotine vaping, and 92% who had no opioids. 12% smoke cigarettes or nicotine vapes daily, while 7% consume alcohol daily, 7% consume cannabis daily, and 2% consume opioids daily.Most report that substance use is having a low impact on their mental health
The greatest proportion of respondents indicate that their substance use had neither a positive nor negative impact on their mental health. Among the substances listed, the highest number of respondents say that tobacco/nicotine vaping has a negative impact on their mental health (27%), followed by opioids (23%), alcohol (13%), and cannabis (10%). Higher proportions of cannabis (42%) and opioid (35%) users indicate that their substance use has a positive impact on their mental health, compared to alcohol (14%) and tobacco (17%) users.1 in 3 respondents are not getting the recommended amount of sleep
35% of respondents report sleeping fewer than the minimum recommended amount of 7 hours per night. The highest number of respondents report sleeping 7 hours per night on average (28%), followed by 6 hours (23%) and 8 hours (21%). 12% of respondents report sleeping 5 or fewer hours per night, and 6% report sleeping 9 or more hours.2/3 spend 5 hours or more sitting every day
Only 16% of respondents report sitting fewer than 5 hours on average per day. 37% report sitting between 5 and 9 hours, 20% sit between 10 and 14 hours, and 4% sit 15 hours or more. 23% of respondents are unsure how long they sit, on average, per day. Number of hours spent sitting per day did not differ according to age, gender, or income.1/5 report having been unable to eat healthy food due to costs at least once in the past year
19% report having been unable to eat healthy and nutritious food at some point in the past year due to a lack of money or resources and 16% report having been worried about not having enough to eat. 6% used a food bank. Respondents with household incomes under $40K are more likely to have experienced food insecurity. For example, 27% were worried about not having enough food and 17% used a food bank.2/3 report eating a healthy diet
63% of respondents “somewhat” or “strongly agree” that, in general, they eat a healthy diet, while 15% “somewhat” or “strongly disagree.” Those aged 55+ are more likely to agree that they eat a healthy diet (75%) than those aged 35-54 (57%) and 18-34 (52%). Some respondents report affordability as being a barrier to a healthy diet.One third have missed one or more recommended health screenings in the past three years
Out of the 74% of respondents who report having had health screenings recommended to them in the past three years, 86% report having completed some (36%) or all (50%) of the health screenings that were recommended to them. 23% of the sample report not having any screenings recommended to them in the past three years. Young respondents (18-34) are more likely to have missed some or all of their recommended screenings compared to those aged 35-54 and 55+. Those without a primary care provider are also more likely than those with a primary provider to have missed some or all screenings.2/3 completed a health screening in the past three years
The most common health screenings completed by respondents in the past three years were vision/hearing (40%), followed by cholesterol (28%), blood pressure (28%), and diabetes (20%). 2% of women aged 18-34, 18% of women aged 35-54 and 57% of women aged 55+ completed breast cancer screenings in the past three years. 23% of women aged 18-34, 30% of women aged 35-54 and 27% of women aged 55+ had cervical cancer screenings during the past three years. 12% of men, in general – and 26% of men over the age of 55 – were screened for prostate cancer.Half of respondents use digital technologies to monitor their physical activity and health
52% of respondents use digital technologies to monitor at least one health indicator. The most frequently tracked indicators are physical activity (38%), sleep (21%), and blood pressure (15%). Younger respondents (18-34) use digital technologies to track physical activity (44%), sleep (28%), eating behaviours (14%) and mental health and wellbeing (11%) at higher rates than older respondents. Older respondents (55+) use digital technologies to track blood pressure (19%) and glucose levels (7%) at higher rates than younger respondents.Infectious Disease
Around half of Canadian adults say they are likely to get a flu shot in the 2023-24 season
47% of respondents are “somewhat likely,” “likely,” or “extremely likely” to get a flu shot in Fall-Winter 2023-2024, while 44% are “somewhat unlikely,” “unlikely,” or “extremely unlikely” to get one. Those aged 55+ are more likely to get a flu shot (61%) than those aged 35-54 (38%) and 18-34 (34%).39% have 4 or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine
69% of respondents report having at least three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Fewer report having at least four (39%), five (17%), or six doses (5%). Older respondents (55+) are more likely to report having a higher number of COVID-19 vaccine doses compared to younger respondents.55% intend to get another dose of a COVID-19 vaccine either right away or eventually
55% of respondents intend to get another dose of a COVID-19 vaccine if available and recommended to them either as soon as possible (38%) or after some time (17%). 34% do not intend to get another dose and 11% are unsure. respondents who already have at least four doses are much more likely to intend to get another dose either right away or after some time (90%), compared to those who have had 3 doses (53%) or 2 or fewer doses (16%).Low familiarity with monoclonal antibody treatments
Overall, there is quite low familiarity with monoclonal antibody treatments in the population, which should be considered in any future communications on these treatments (e.g., to treat at-risk infants for RSV). 24% have heard of monoclonal antibodies and only 5% of respondents report understanding what they are. 76% of respondents have not heard of monoclonal antibodies.Around half of respondents have heard of RSV
57% of respondents indicate that they have heard of RSV and know what it is (19%) or that they have heard about it but don’t know much about it (38%), whereas 43% have not heard of RSV. respondents aged 55+ are more likely to have heard of RSV (63%), compared to those aged 35-54 (54%) and 18-34 (52%). Women are more likely to have heard of RSV (63%) than men (51%).Just over half of seniors would get an RSV vaccine
When provided with information on the impacts of RSV, 56% of respondents aged 55+ indicated that they would get an RSV vaccine to protect themselves from severe outcomes, 27% were unsure, and 17% would not get the vaccine. Among the 55+ age group, men (60%) are more likely say they would get the vaccine than women (52%). Women tend to be more unsure (31%) than men (23%). Intentions to get an RSV vaccine among seniors are linked to familiarity with RSV. Those who have heard of RSV and understand what it is (64%) or have heard of RSV but don’t know much about it (60%) are more likely to say they would get an RSV vaccine than those who have not heard of RSV (46%).59% of pregnant individuals indicate that they would get an RSV vaccine to protect their infant
When provided with information on the impacts of RSV, 59% of respondents who were recently pregnant, currently pregnant, or planning to become pregnant indicated that they would get an RSV vaccine while pregnant to protect their future infant against severe outcomes.Though a majority report pro-vaccination attitudes and beliefs, a large share do not
The majority of respondents agree with positive statements regarding vaccination, in general, such as “I would get vaccinated to protect the health of those around me” and “I would get vaccinated if recommended by a health care professional.” Older respondents (55+) are more likely to agree with these statements, compared to younger respondents. However, 1 in 4 respondents agree with the statement “a healthy lifestyle can replace vaccination,” and 1 in 5 agree that “there are more risks than benefits when getting vaccinated.” Older respondents (55+) are less likely to agree with these statements.Majority of respondents are likely to practice public health measures in the future
The majority of respondents indicate they are “somewhat likely,” “likely,” or “extremely likely” to practice the following public health measures in the future to protect themselves or others from respiratory infectious diseases: staying home when sick (85%); wearing a mask when sick (72%); using rapid tests (69%); taking actions improve indoor air quality (68%); and wearing a mask during seasonal infection disease outbreaks (61%). Respondents aged 55+ and women are more likely to say they will practice public health measures than their counterparts.Views on the Public Health System
Under half of respondents trust public institutions on healthcare
48% of respondents “somewhat” or “strongly trust” the Public Health Agency of Canada to make good decisions about public healthcare, while 41% “somewhat” or “strongly trust” the Government of Canada, and 42% “somewhat” or “strongly trust” their provincial/territorial government. Respondents aged 55+ have stronger trust in all three institutions compared to younger respondents.Low familiarity with the role of the Public Health Agency of Canada
17% of respondents report being either “familiar” or “very familiar” with the role of the Public Health Agency of Canada, 29% report being “somewhat familiar,” and 54% are “slightly” or “not at all familiar.” Familiarity with PHAC was not found to differ significantly by age, gender, region, or income. However, familiarity was related to trust in PHAC. Greater trust was reported among those who were more familiar with the agency.3/4 agree that the Canadian healthcare system is in crisis
Three quarters (75%) of respondents “agree” or “strongly agree” that “the Canadian health care system is in crisis.” Women (82%) are more likely than men (67%) to think the healthcare system is in crisis.Reducing wait times and access to primary care are top priorities for respondents
When asked which improvements to the healthcare system should be prioritized, top choices were reducing emergency room wait times (70%), increasing access to primary care providers (68%, regardless of whether individuals have their own provider), and reducing surgical and/or specialist wait times (66%).Majority say housing and food are unaffordable
54% of respondents indicate that housing has been “somewhat” or “very unaffordable” in the past year, 60% rate food as “somewhat” or “very unaffordable”, and 33% indicate that health care is “somewhat” or “very unaffordable.” Responses to these questions did not vary significantly according to income.Spotlight: Public Health and Climate Change
2/3 have experienced at least one extreme weather-related event in the past year
The most commonly extreme weather-related events experienced by respondents over the past year were periods of excessive heat (44%), power outages related to weather events (31%), and wildfires (30%). Only 29% of respondents indicated that they did not experience any extreme weather-related events over the past 12 months.1/3 have experienced health impacts in the past year that may be climate-related
Overall, 38% of respondents report having experienced at least one health impact that may be climate-related. The most frequently reported impacts are asthma and/or allergies (18%), respiratory problems from wildfire smoke (13%), and climate anxiety (12%).Most think climate change will have large health and wellbeing impacts
respondents are more likely to believe that climate change will have a large impact on others (future generations: 70%, marginalized people in Canada: 64%, others in Canada: 59%), compared to on themselves and their immediate family (48%). A greater proportion of women compared to men indicated that climate change will have a large impact on each of the four groups.1/2 are concerned about the health impacts of climate change
Around half of respondents report being concerned about some of the health impacts of climate change such as, illness caused by poor air quality (59%), water and food-related impacts (53%), illness caused by extreme heat (49%), mental health issues (48%), and infectious disease (48%). Across all categories of health impacts, a greater proportion of women than men reported concern.1/2 are at least moderately anxious about the impacts of climate change on their health
54% of respondents are either “moderately,” “very,” or “extremely anxious” about the impacts of climate change on their health, while 43% report being “not at all” or “slightly anxious.” Those aged 18-34 are more likely to be “very” or “extremely anxious” (37%) than those aged 35-54 (18%) and 55+ (14%).Over 1/2 take actions, or are willing to, take actions that improve their health and mitigate climate change
When asked about their willingness to engage in health and climate change mitigation and adaptation behaviours, over half of respondents report that they already take these actions or are willing to take actions. Willingness varies by action, with 76% indicating they already take steps to reduce their risk of tick bites or are “somewhat” or “very willing” to do so, and 74% already have an emergency kit or are “somewhat” or “very willing” to maintain one. Fewer respondents are already, or are willing to, wear a respirator type mask to reduce the impacts of wildfire smoke (51%) or to reduce their red meat consumption (53%).3/4 have an air conditioner in their home
75% of respondents already have an air conditioner in their home, and 9% are planning to buy one next year. Those in British Columbia (62%) and Alberta (53%) are less likely to have air conditioning, compared to those in other provinces. Low-income respondents (under $40K) are also less likely to have an air conditioner (64%) than those in higher income brackets.Many respondents took actions to prepare for extreme heat last summer
Over the past summer (2023), many respondents took actions to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat events. 48% indicate that they regularly checked local weather forecasts and alerts, 26% bought a fan, 23% installed a home cooling system, 12% installed thermal curtains, window coverings or reflective films, and 10% identified places in their community to get cool.respondents took various approaches to responding to extreme heat
The most frequently reported actions taken in response to extreme heat are as follows: drinking more fluids (36%), staying inside (34%), using air conditioning (31%), using a fan (26%), and avoiding physical activity (26%). Only 1% of respondents indicate that they did not take any actions in response to extreme heat over the past summer.1/4 reported that high costs prevent them from preparing or responding to extreme heat
When asked whether any barriers would prevent them from preparing for or responding to extreme heat events, 48% of respondents report not facing any of the listed barriers. Of those who did encounter barriers, the most frequently cited barriers were cost (26%) and not receiving extreme heat alerts or heat wave warnings (16%).Over 2/3 feel capable of preparing for and responding to extreme heat
70% of respondents either “somewhat” or “strongly” agreed that they feel capable of preparing for and responding to extreme heat events, while 9% “somewhat” or “strongly” disagreed. Those aged 55+ were more likely to agree that they are capable of responding to, and preparing for, extreme heat events (83%), compared to those aged 35-54 (65%) and 18-34 (55%).Under 1/2 think that extreme heat is likely to impact their personal health
43% of respondents indicate that it is “somewhat likely,” “likely,” or “extremely likely” that extreme heat events will directly impact their personal health, while 32% think it is unlikely. Compared to those aged 35-54 (45%) and 18-34 (46%), a smaller proportion of those aged 55+ reported that extreme heat would likely impact their health (39%).Regional & Demographic Profile
| Regional Profile | Canada | BC/YK | AB/NT | MB/SK/ NU | ON | QC | ATL |
| (n=2,049) | (n=251) | (n=218) | (n=176) | (n=705) | (n=422) | (n=277) | |
| Age | |||||||
| 18-34 years | 26% | 26% | 28% | 28% | 27% | 24% | 22% |
| 35-54 years | 32% | 31% | 36% | 32% | 32% | 32% | 30% |
| 55 years and older | 41% | 42% | 35% | 38% | 40% | 43% | 47% |
| Gender | |||||||
| Man | 48% | 48% | 48% | 46% | 48% | 49% | 48% |
| Woman | 51% | 51% | 51% | 51% | 52% | 51% | 52% |
| Other | 1% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 0% | 0% |
| Education | |||||||
| High school or less | 23% | 21% | 22% | 35% | 22% | 20% | 25% |
| College/trades | 46% | 45% | 49% | 32% | 44% | 52% | 52% |
| University / post-graduate | 31% | 33% | 27% | 31% | 34% | 28% | 23% |
| Size of community | |||||||
| A large city | 32% | 32% | 45% | 45% | 35% | 23% | 13% |
| A suburb near a large city | 26% | 29% | 18% | 12% | 28% | 31% | 18% |
| A small city or town | 26% | 23% | 24% | 22% | 24% | 31% | 31% |
| A rural or remote area | 16% | 16% | 12% | 21% | 13% | 14% | 37% |
| Employment | |||||||
| Full-time (30+ hours per week) | 42% | 35% | 42% | 40% | 43% | 47% | 41% |
| Part-time ([30 hours per week) | 7% | 10% | 11% | 9% | 7% | 4% | 9% |
| Self-employed | 6% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 7% | 5% | 3% |
| Unemployed | 5% | 8% | 3% | 9% | 5% | 4% | 6% |
| Full-time student | 6% | 8% | 7% | 3% | 6% | 5% | 5% |
| Retired | 27% | 26% | 21% | 24% | 24% | 32% | 32% |
| Other | 6% | 5% | 9% | 8% | 7% | 3% | 5% |
| Income | |||||||
| Under $40,000 | 22% | 22% | 19% | 25% | 21% | 21% | 29% |
| $40,000 to just under $80,000 | 29% | 29% | 31% | 30% | 30% | 27% | 29% |
| $80,000 to just under $100,000 | 13% | 14% | 11% | 16% | 11% | 16% | 12% |
| $100,000 to just under $200,000 | 23% | 25% | 25% | 19% | 23% | 22% | 21% |
| $200,000 or more | 3% | 3% | 5% | 1% | 4% | 3% | 2% |
| Children under 18 | |||||||
| Yes | 27% | 26% | 33% | 34% | 24% | 27% | 29% |
| Pregnant (incl. planning or recent) | |||||||
| Yes | 9% | 8% | 12% | 9% | 10% | 8% | 9% |
| Immigration time | |||||||
| First generation | 19% | 21% | 19% | 15% | 26% | 8% | 8% |
| Second generation | 20% | 28% | 24% | 14% | 26% | 9% | 6% |
| Third generation | 30% | 32% | 33% | 40% | 29% | 25% | 40% |
| Fourth generation or more | 31% | 20% | 24% | 32% | 19% | 58% | 46% |
| Ethnicity and Indigenous Status | |||||||
| White | 72% | 64% | 67% | 75% | 65% | 85% | 87% |
| Visible minorities only | 19% | 22% | 21% | 12% | 27% | 7% | 5% |
| White + visible minorities | 2% | 4% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 2% |
| Indigenous status | 5% | 7% | 8% | 9% | 2% | 3% | 5% |
| Member of 2SLGBTQIA+ community | |||||||
| Yes | 11% | 15% | 11% | 7% | 9% | 13% | 8% |
| Person with a disability | |||||||
| Yes | 19% | 21% | 25% | 21% | 21% | 12% | 22% |