The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health among College Students in the United States
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46570/utjms.vol12-2024-1280Keywords:
COVID-19, Pandemic, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Suicidal Ideation, Coping, Lifestyle MedicineAbstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health of college students in the United States (U.S.). Here, we review studies that explored the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health measures and coping strategies of university students. Previously published studies conducted in this population, using tools like the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and PSS-10 questionnaires demonstrated a notable increase in the prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress and suicidal ideation. Female and advanced college students were particularly vulnerable, consistently showing higher scores for anxiety and stress. Females also displayed greater depression severity scores compared to their male counterparts; however, some advanced students displayed lower scores compared to the first-year undergraduate students. There was an overall decrease in suicidal ideation among college students during the pandemic; however, some schools were found to have an increase in the level of suicidal ideation. The shared negative effects of COVID-19 among college students encompassed health, academic, and lifestyle domains. Coping strategies varied, with "support from friends and family" being predominant. In addition, an overall underutilization of mental health resources was reported. Non-pharmacological therapies, particularly lifestyle modifications such as regular exercise, demonstrated efficacy in alleviating symptoms; however, challenges such as underuse and patient compliance were prevalent. These findings highlight the necessity of promoting mental health resources, addressing gender and academic level-specific vulnerabilities, and implementing accessible non-pharmacological interventions to mitigate the mental health impact of pandemics on U.S. college students.
References
Coughenour, C., et al., Changes in Depression and Physical Activity Among College Students on a Diverse Campus After a COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Order. J Community Health, 2021. 46(4): p. 758-766. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-020-00918-5
Kim, H., et al., College Mental Health Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From a Nationwide Survey. Cognit Ther Res, 2022. 46(1): p. 1-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-021-10241-5
Lee, J., et al., Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of US college students. BMC Psychol, 2021. 9(1): p. 95. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-021-00598-3
Greenberg, P.E., et al., The Economic Burden of Adults with Major Depressive Disorder in the United States (2010 and 2018). Pharmacoeconomics, 2021. 39(6): p. 653-665. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40273-021-01019-4
Stamatis, C.A., et al., A longitudinal investigation of COVID-19 pandemic experiences and mental health among university students. Br J Clin Psychol, 2022. 61(2): p. 385-404. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12351
Wang, X., et al., Investigating Mental Health of US College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Survey Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2020. 22(9): p. e22817. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/22817
Oh, H., et al., COVID-19 dimensions are related to depression and anxiety among US college students: Findings from the Healthy Minds Survey 2020. J Affect Disord, 2021. 292: p. 270-275. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.05.121
Roche, A.I., P.J. Holdefer, and E.B.K. Thomas, College student mental health: Understanding changes in psychological symptoms in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Curr Psychol, 2022: p. 1-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03193-w
Vallée, A., Heterogeneity of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States of America: A Geo-Epidemiological Perspective. Front Public Health, 2022. 10: p. 818989. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.818989
Salk, R.H., J.S. Hyde, and L.Y. Abramson, Gender differences in depression in representative national samples: Meta-analyses of diagnoses and symptoms. Psychol Bull, 2017. 143(8): p. 783-822. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000102
Ferrari, A.J., et al., Global variation in the prevalence and incidence of major depressive disorder: a systematic review of the epidemiological literature. Psychol Med, 2013. 43(3): p. 471-81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291712001511
Son, C., et al., Effects of COVID-19 on College Students’ Mental Health in the United States: Interview Survey Study. J Med Internet Res, 2020. 22(9): p. e21279. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/21279
Lee, J., H.J. Jeong, and S. Kim, Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Among Undergraduate Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic and their Use of Mental Health Services. Innov High Educ, 2021. 46(5): p. 519-538. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-021-09552-y
Altemus, M., N. Sarvaiya, and C. Neill Epperson, Sex differences in anxiety and depression clinical perspectives. Front Neuroendocrinol, 2014. 35(3): p. 320-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2014.05.004
Kessler, R.C., et al., Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DSM-III-R psychiatric disorders in the United States. Results from the National Comorbidity Survey. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 1994. 51(1): p. 8-19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1994.03950010008002
Zhai, Y. and X. Du, Trends and prevalence of suicide 2017–2021 and its association with COVID-19: Interrupted time series analysis of a national sample of college students in the United States. Psychiatry Research, 2022. 316: p. 114796. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114796
Zajkowska, Z., et al., A systematic review of the association between biological markers and environmental stress risk factors for adolescent depression. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 2021. 138: p. 163-175. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.04.003
Blumenthal, J.A. and A. Rozanski, Exercise as a therapeutic modality for the prevention and treatment of depression. Prog Cardiovasc Dis, 2023. 77: p. 50-58. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2023.02.008
Xie, Y., et al., The Effects and Mechanisms of Exercise on the Treatment of Depression. Front Psychiatry, 2021. 12: p. 705559. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.705559
Vieira, F., et al., Lifestyle-related behaviors and depressive symptoms in college students. Cad Saude Publica, 2021. 37(10): p. e00202920. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311x00202920
Liu, X.Q., et al., Influencing factors, prediction and prevention of depression in college students: A literature review. World J Psychiatry, 2022. 12(7): p. 860-873. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5498/wjp.v12.i7.860
Xu, Y., et al., The contribution of lifestyle factors to depressive symptoms: A cross-sectional study in Chinese college students. Psychiatry Res, 2016. 245: p. 243-249. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2016.03.009
Schuch, F.B., et al., Exercise as a treatment for depression: A meta-analysis adjusting for publication bias. J Psychiatr Res, 2016. 77: p. 42-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.02.023
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Smita Sahay, Christina Flora-Annabelle Vargas, Sophia Claire Hoar, Jae Choi, Sinead Marie O'Donovan (Author)
![Creative Commons License](http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/4.0/88x31.png)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).