COSMO Wave 1.4
How behaviours have shifted in balancing work and family priorities throughout this time of transition
Impact Canada, Impact & Innovation Unit, Privy Council Office
Key Insights
This report focuses on the results for the second wave of this research. 2,152 Canadians aged 18 and older were surveyed between May 27 and June 1, 2020. The data was weighted to ensure that the sample distribution reflects the actual Canadian adult population according to Statistics Canada census data. There is no associated margin of error for the results, since a non-probability design means that results cannot be projected to the larger population.
Questions were added that focused on how behaviours have shifted in balancing work and family priorities throughout this time of transition. Further questions that focused on the experiences of small and medium business owners were also added. Wave 4 also captured Canadians‘ ongoing perceptions of (1) when and how restriction measures should be relaxed; and (2) degree of comfort with returning to somewhat normal routines and/or behaviours over time.
More Canadians are feeling that the “worst of the crisis is behind us”
As we move through the crisis, more people are feeling that the “worst of the crisis is behind us” (from 6% in mid-April to 36% at the end of May) and fewer Canadians are worried about transmitting COVID-19 to people around them. However, an equal portion of Canadians still feel that the worst of the crisis is yet to come [ see chart ].
Support for some public health measures is declining
Support for the continued closures of daycare centres and schools, restricted access to long-term care facilities, physical distancing and cancelling large events for an additional one to six months or longer remains fairly high, but these numbers have decreased over each Wave of the survey. The percentage of respondents who think that the closures of non-essential services and outdoor spaces need to end within 30 days or sooner increased from Wave 3 to Wave 4 [ see chart ].
Compliance with some public health measures has declined
Compliance levels with many protective behaviours have declined. However, mask-wearing while out in public has increased over each Wave (from 22% in Wave 1 to 36% in Wave 4) [ see chart ].
Background
To support federal response efforts, Impact Canada is leading the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Behavioural Insights (BI) Tool on COVID-19 in the Canadian context. This work is led in collaboration with the Public Opinion Research Team within the Privy Council Office’s (PCO) Communications and Consultation Secretariat, which supports the Prime Minister’s Office in coordinating government communications in accordance with key priorities.
Methodology
With a longitudinal design, the study follows 2,000 participants recruited from an online panel over sixteen data collection waves. New participants are added only when an original panelist stops participating.
Respondents are a representative mix of Canadian adults aged 18 years and older and results are weighted using 2016 Statistics Canada census data to mirror the population distribution in Canada.
Selected Figures
A number of selected figures are presented below. For more information on the data set, please contact the Impact and Innovation Unit .
Respondent Profiles
Age
| Canada (n=2,000) | BC/Yukon (n=278) | Alberta (n=263) | Man/Sask (n=243) | Ontario (n=590) | Quebec (n=402) | Atlantic (n=224) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18-34 years | 27% | 27% | 32% | 30% | 28% | 26% | 23% |
| 35-54 years | 34% | 33% | 36% | 33% | 34% | 33% | 33% |
| 55 years and older | 39% | 40% | 32% | 37% | 38% | 41% | 44% |
Gender
| Canada (n=2,000) | BC/Yukon (n=278) | Alberta (n=263) | Man/Sask (n=243) | Ontario (n=590) | Quebec (n=402) | Atlantic (n=224) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 48% | 48% | 49% | 49% | 48% | 49% | 47% |
| Female | 51% | 52% | 50% | 51% | 52% | 51% | 52% |
| Gender diverse | 0.46% | 0% | 1% | 0.56% | 0.6% | 0% | 1% |
Education
| Canada (n=2,000) | BC/Yukon (n=278) | Alberta (n=263) | Man/Sask (n=243) | Ontario (n=590) | Quebec (n=402) | Atlantic (n=224) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High school or less | 21% | 21% | 19% | 27% | 19% | 22% | 25% |
| College/trades | 52% | 48% | 54% | 50% | 51% | 55% | 53% |
| University / post-graduate | 27% | 31% | 27% | 23% | 30% | 23% | 22% |