Prevalence and Correlates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: Prévalence et corrélats des symptômes du trouble de stress post-traumatique pendant la pandémie de COVID-19 au Canada : Revue systématique et méta-analyse

Background Infectious disease outbreaks have been associated with significant psychological distress and trauma. In Canada, the COVID-19 pandemic's social disruptions have heightened mental health risks. While global studies report elevated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, Canadian findings remain limited and inconsistent. This meta-analysis estimated pooled prevalence of PTSD symptoms in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic and examined potential moderators. Methods A comprehensive search strategy was executed by research librarians across five databases (APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE and Web of Science) and on LitCovid. The PRISMA guidelines were used for data extraction and reporting. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to estimate pooled PTSD symptoms prevalence and explore potential moderators using the metaprop command in STATA/SE 19.5. Results Thirty studies conducted between 2020 and 2022, with 52,565 participants aged 18 and older were included (65% weighted women). The pooled prevalence of PTSD symptoms was 22.2% (95% CI, 15.7% to 29.4%; I 2 =99.69). Prevalence was 32.1% in women, 26.1% in men ( p = 0.399) and ranged from 16.1% in Quebec to 29.7% in Ontario ( p = 0.091). Meta-regressions showed lower PTSD symptoms prevalence in Quebec (B=–0.16, p = 0.029). No significant differences in PTSD symptoms were found according to sex, healthcare worker status, assessment tool used, or data collection year. Conclusions This meta-analysis reveals a concerning prevalence of PTSD symptoms in the Canadian population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contrary to expectations, no significant differences were found by sex or healthcare worker status, suggesting widespread psychological distress across the population. However, the substantial heterogeneity across studies limits the interpretation of these findings in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results emphasize the need for inclusive and accessible mental health responses and further research on post-pandemic Canadians’ mental health. Future studies should better disaggregate data by sex, age and race to address disparities and inform targeted public health policies and interventions.