Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic for Health Profession Students: Perceptions about Academic Program Responsiveness and Mental Health Outcomes
Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic for Health Profession Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46570/utjms-2026-1654Keywords:
COVID-19, academic response, mental health, pandemic impact, health profession studentsAbstract
Introduction: Given the likelihood of future disease outbreaks, there is a need to examine the mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for health profession students and the extent to which health profession program responses to the pandemic influenced student mental health.
Objectives: This study uses data from two cohorts (Cohort 1: N=257; Cohort 2: N=177) of health profession students during the COVID-19 pandemic (11/2020-3/2021 and 5/2021-1/2022) to examine and compare student mental health during these time frames and determine associations between students’ perceptions of their programs’ response to the pandemic and mental health outcomes.
Methods: Participants completed self-report measures assessing mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, COVID-19 obsessive thoughts, sleep disturbance, academic stress) and perceptions of their program’s response to the pandemic.
Results: Few between-cohort differences in mental health outcomes were found. In both cohorts, depression and anxiety symptoms, COVID-19 obsessive thoughts, and sleep disturbance were higher than those observed in the general population. Across both cohorts, the perception that their academic program had taken adequate steps to protect students’ mental health was significantly negatively associated with all mental health outcomes.
Conclusion: Findings highlight the importance of visible and accessible mental health services that can mitigate the psychological burden of pandemics for health profession students.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Matthew T. Tull, Ph.D., Tara L. Spitzen, Ph.D, April Gardner, MSBS, PA-C3, Kathleen Mitchell, DNP, APRN-CNS4, Kim L. Gratz, Ph.D., Kelly Izsak, Lori M. DeShetler, Ph.D. (Author)
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