People are coping with pandemic: poll
Things we miss most from our pre-pandemic life is seeing family, friends, eating at restaurants, and travel.
As 2020 draws to a close and most of us reflect on the difficulties many have experienced since the pandemic began, the final Insights West poll of the year shows that most British Columbians have handled the pandemic well and have actually experienced many positive outcomes since it began.
On an emotional and personal level, the majority of British Columbians are coping well with the pandemic.
In fact, 66% of B.C. residents rate the job they are doing in coping with the COVID-19 situation as ‘good’ (51%) or ‘excellent’ (15%). A further 27% say they are doing ‘fair’ while only 7% say they are doing ‘poor’(ly).
The pandemic has had a disproportionately negative effect on certain segments — females are more likely to provide ‘poor’ or ‘fair’ ratings (41% versus 27% of males), as do 18-34 year-olds (40% versus 38% of 35-54’s and 26% of those 55+), and those with lower incomes (40% of households with incomes less than $75K per year vs. 30% $75K+).
Insights West compiled a list of 23 possible positive outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic and asked 800+ British Columbians to rate whether there was a positive or negative outcome for themselves personally, and we found that there were a significant number of positive outcomes overall. At the top of the list was gratitude and appreciation for the important things in life.
The top rated most positive outcome of the pandemic is ‘more appreciation for friends and family’, an aspect that 79% felt was a positive outcome—including 39% who feel it is a ‘major positive outcome’. A close second is ‘learning to be more grateful’ (70%) followed by ‘more focus on what is really important in life’ (68%).
Despite the devastating financial effect that COVID-19 has had on a significant number of families, it’s perhaps surprising that near the top of the list is 64% who say that ‘saved more money’ or ‘spent more carefully’ (62%) is a positive outcome.
A wide array of other positive outcomes— from cooking more, home improvements, helping the environment, learning new hobbies, and many others are charted below.
“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 that can be attributed to the pandemic.”
In addition to the positive outcomes, Insights West pulled together a list of 18 things that BC residents miss most as a result of the pandemic and found that the No. 1 thing people miss most (96%) is visiting/seeing friends, followed by visiting/seeing family (90%).
Despite restaurants being for the most part remaining open, this rates third on the list (89%).
Travelling in Canada (87%) or abroad (78%) is fourth and fifth on the list of things missed.
The least missed of our list of 18 items? Going to the office — only 32% of us say we miss this, and just 3% placed it in our list of the top three aspects we miss the most.
Results are based on an online study conducted Dec. 16-21, 2020 among a sample of 823 B.C. residents.
The margin of error is points 19 times out of 20.
Insights West is a full-service marketing research firm based in Western Canada.
3.4 percentage