Anxiety, Depression, Suicidal Ideation Common Among College Students at Start of COVID-19 Pandemic

Anxiety and depression were very common among college students during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and around 16% of college students had suicidal ideation, according to a new survey published in Frontiers in Public Health.

The study was the result of a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) at San Jose State University, in which undergraduate students designed surveys and conducted the research. A subgroup of the students then authored the study, noting that this unique participatory design offers new insights due to the first-hand knowledge of its authors.

“For example, although previous research measured mental health among diverse college students in Israel and the United States, these studies did not emphasize students’ engagement in the study design and data collection, or provide an opportunity for students to draw on their experiential knowledge of mental health to generate research questions,” wrote the authors.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to major economic and social disruption across the globe. Many workers were sent home, either to work remotely or because they lost their jobs. Schools and universities also switched to remote learning, significantly changing the paradigm through which students obtained their education.

These investigators noted that previous research showed that most California college students experienced changes in their living situations, nearly half lost work, and more than 70% said they missed class because of personal stress.

To better understand how the pandemic—and all of the disruption it caused—affected the mental health of college students, the suthors developed surveys assessing mental health for undergraduates at the university. One survey was conducted in the fall of 2020, while the other was conducted in spring of 2021. After excluding participants who did not meet the study’s eligibility criteria, the investigators analyzed responses from 394 respondents to the October 2020 survey and 222 respondents to the March 2021 survey. Seventy percent of the respondents were female, three-quarters were heterosexual, and about two-thirds were either Asian or Latinx.

The responses indicated that a minority of students (38.07% in October 2020 and 40.65% in March 2021) had experienced anxiety, and more than a quarter experienced depression (29.85% and 27.57%, respectively). In October 2020, 15.94% of respondents reported suicidal ideation, as did 16.04% of respondents in March 2021. Nearly 6 in 10 participants said they were lonely at least several days in the 2 weeks prior to taking the survey, and just over one-third (34.27%) said they lost income or a job in the first year of the pandemic.

The authors said these findings are important because the impacts of these mental health issues will likely be felt for years after the pandemic ends.

“Recognizing the extensive mental health challenges faced by young adult college students, we suggest that universities proactively employ universal approaches to improving mental health, rather than relying on counseling and psychological services within health centers to treat all students who could potentially benefit from mental health care,” they wrote.

When asked how they coped with the mental health burden, 69.01% of respondents said they watched shows, listened to music, or played video games. Sleeping, taking breaks, or connecting with friends or family were also reported by the survey respondents.

The authors said universities should consider strategies that help students build skills associated with resilience and develop programs aimed at reducing loneliness. They said training for faculty could help instructors find ways to promote connections between students in their classes and that they hope their study shows the versatility and value of the CURE participatory model.

“While CUREs have been slow to be adopted outside of STEM fields, this study adds to a growing body of literature demonstrating the feasibility of CUREs in public health and other social sciences,” they said.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a trained listener, call 988. Visit 988lifeline.org for crisis chat services or for more information.

Reference

Park C, McClure Fuller M, Echevarria TM, et al. A participatory study of college students' mental health during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Public Health. Published online March 21, 2023. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1116865