Table 2 Cohort characteristics at the first lockdown & the second lockdown of the participants who completed both surveys
|  | First lockdown | Second lockdown |
|---|---|---|
|  | N = 1,008 N (%) or mean (SD)a * | N = 1,008 N (%) or mean (SD)a* |
Combined score of social solidarity (Aggregated score from 6 to 30) | 21.53 (4.36) | 20.88 (4.72) |
I feel connected with others | ||
 Agree | 408 (40.5%) | 317 (31.4%) |
 Mildly | 328 (32.5%) | 353 (35.0%) |
 Disagree | 221 (21.9%) | 288 (28.6%) |
 Missing | 51 (5.1%) | 50 (5.0%) |
Stay connected with family and friends | ||
 Easy | 393 (39.0%) | 280 (27.8%) |
 Neither | 313 (31.1%) | 277 (27.5%) |
 Hard | 272 (27.0%) | 424 (42.1%) |
 Missing | 30 (3.0%) | 27 (2.7%) |
Life satisfaction | ||
 Low/Medium (Rated 0 to 6) | 463 (45.9%) | 548 (54.4%) |
 High (Rated 7 or 10) | 526 (52.2%) | 437 (43.4%) |
 Missing | 19 (1.9%) | 23 (2.3%) |
Psychological distress | ||
 No probable mental health issue | 848 (84.1%) | 835 (82.8%) |
 High Psychological Distress | 124 (12.3%) | 142 (14.1%) |
 Missing | 36 (3.6%) | 31 (3.1%) |
Age | ||
 65 + years | 193 (19.1%) | 197 (19.5%) |
 55 – 64 years | 234 (23.2%) | 239 (23.7%) |
 45 – 54 years | 224 (22.2%) | 230 (22.8%) |
 35 – 44 years | 179 (17.8%) | 180 (17.9%) |
 18 – 34 years | 178 (17.7%) | 162 (16.1%) |
Gender | ||
 Male or Non-binary | 439 (43.6%) | 439 (43.6%) |
 Female | 568 (56.3%) | 568 (56.3%) |
 Missing | 1 (0.1%) | 1 (0.1%) |
Disability | ||
 No | 754 (74.8%) | 747 (74.1%) |
 Yes | 213 (21.1%) | 203 (20.1%) |
 Missing | 41 (4.1%) | 58 (5.8%) |
Income | ||
 $100,000 or more | 263 (26.1%) | 259 (25.7%) |
 $60,000 – $99,999 | 215 (21.3%) | 214 (21.2%) |
 $40,000 – $59,999 | 147 (14.6%) | 158 (15.7%) |
 Under $40,000 | 245 (24.3%) | 245 (24.3%) |
 Missing | 138 (13.7%) | 132 (13.1%) |
Main activity in February & September 2020 | (February) | (September) |
 Employed | 566 (56.2%) | 553 (54.9%) |
 Unemployed | 176 (17.5%) | 200 (19.8%) |
 Retired | 210 (20.8%) | 218 (21.6%) |
 Other | 40 (4.0%) | 28 (2.8%) |
 Missing | 16 (1.6%) | 9 (0.9%) |
Region | ||
 Other | 233 (23.1%) | 233 (23.1%) |
 Melbourne | 775 (76.9%) | 775 (76.9%) |
 Household Composition | ||
 Couple living alone | 291 (28.9%) | 291 (28.9%) |
 Person living alone | 220 (21.8%) | 220 (21.8%) |
 Couple with children | 322 (31.9%) | 319 (31.6%) |
 Single parent with children | 66 (6.5%) | 66 (6.5%) |
 Other | 88 (8.7%) | 90 (8.9%) |
 Missing | 21 (2.1%) | 22 (2.2%) |