Psychological impacts from COVID-19 among university students: Risk factors across seven states in the United States

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 1; p. e0245327
• Main Authors: Browning, Matthew H E M, Larson, Lincoln R, Sharaievska, Iryna, Rigolon, Alessandro, McAnirlin, Olivia, Mullenbach, Lauren, Cloutier, Scott, Vu, Tue M, Thomsen, Jennifer, Reigner, Nathan, Metcalf, Elizabeth Covelli, D'Antonio, Ashley, Helbich, Marco, Bratman, Gregory N, Alvarez, Hector Olvera
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 07-01-2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety; Biology and Life Sciences; Bivariate analysis; College students; Colleges & universities; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographic aspects; Diagnosis; Drug abuse; Eating disorders; Epidemics; Exploratory factor analysis; Factor analysis; Family income; Female; Forestry; Graduate students; Health aspects; Health care expenditures; Health education; Health risks; Health status; Higher education; Hispanic people; Humans; Influence; Low income groups; Male; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mental Health; Mental illness; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Parks & recreation areas; Psychological aspects; Psychology; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Responses; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Screens; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Social classes; Social Factors; Social Sciences; Society; Students; Students - psychology; Substance abuse; Tourism; United States - epidemiology; Universities; University students; Virtual reality; Vulnerability; Women; Young Adult; United States; North Carolina; Oregon; United States > US
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245327

University students are increasingly recognized as a vulnerable population, suffering from higher levels of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and disordered eating compared to the general population. Therefore, when the nature of their educational experience radically changes-such as sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic-the burden on the mental health of this vulnerable population is amplified. The objectives of this study are to 1) identify the array of psychological impacts COVID-19 has on students, 2) develop profiles to characterize students' anticipated levels of psychological impact during the pandemic, and 3) evaluate potential sociodemographic, lifestyle-related, and awareness of people infected with COVID-19 risk factors that could make students more likely to experience these impacts.
Cross-sectional data were collected through web-based questionnaires from seven U.S. universities. Representative and convenience sampling was used to invite students to complete the questionnaires in mid-March to early-May 2020, when most coronavirus-related sheltering in place orders were in effect. We received 2,534 completed responses, of which 61% were from women, 79% from non-Hispanic Whites, and 20% from graduate students.
Exploratory factor analysis on close-ended responses resulted in two latent constructs, which we used to identify profiles of students with latent profile analysis, including high (45% of sample), moderate (40%), and low (14%) levels of psychological impact. Bivariate associations showed students who were women, were non-Hispanic Asian, in fair/poor health, of below-average relative family income, or who knew someone infected with COVID-19 experienced higher levels of psychological impact. Students who were non-Hispanic White, above-average social class, spent at least two hours outside, or less than eight hours on electronic screens were likely to experience lower levels of psychological impact. Multivariate modeling (mixed-effects logistic regression) showed that being a woman, having fair/poor general health status, being 18 to 24 years old, spending 8 or more hours on screens daily, and knowing someone infected predicted higher levels of psychological impact when risk factors were considered simultaneously.
Inadequate efforts to recognize and address college students' mental health challenges, especially during a pandemic, could have long-term consequences on their health and education.