The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has caused the mental health of US college students to plummet, a new study shows.
Students at greatest risk for mental health problems from the pandemic include women, Asians, students under 25, those with health problems, those who met someone with COVID-19 and low-income students, researchers report on 7 January on PLOS ONE.
Even before the emergence of the new coronavirus, college students in the United States struggled with depression, anxiety and other mental disorders at higher rates than the general population. Many college students are struggling with a new social environment, struggling to discover their careers and worrying about finances, says Matthew Browning, an environmental psychologist at Clemson University in South Carolina.
To assess how the pandemic is affecting students’ mental health, Browning and colleagues interviewed more than 2,500 students from seven public universities in the United States last spring, when the pandemic was increasing. Study participants rated the statements about their emotional state, concern about COVID-19, stress and use of time. Based on the total score, the researchers classified students as having experienced high, moderate or low levels of emotional stress and worry. The researchers noted that they did not use standardized screening tools for disorders such as anxiety and depression, but instead focused on mental health stressors arising directly from the pandemic (SN: 3/29/20)
About 85% of students surveyed experienced high to moderate levels of distress, Browning’s team found – about 45% were highly impacted and about 40% moderately impacted. Those who reported low levels of distress were more likely to be white and spend two or more hours outdoors.
Certain factors put some students at a greater risk of feeling highly distressed. Women were twice as likely to fall into this group, compared to moderate or low groups, while Asians were 30% more likely. Spending eight or more hours in front of the computer, smartphone or television also increases the risk.
Colleges and universities must address students’ basic safety and psychological needs before real learning can take place, says Browning. “We need to address students’ mental well-being before thinking about the best way to teach online classes during COVID.”