Psychological Stress among Students in Health-Related Fields during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study at Selected Munich Universities

Kristina Schröpfer, Nicole Schmidt, Sandra Kus, Clemens Koob and Michaela Coenen
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Kristina Schröpfer: Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology—IBE, Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
Nicole Schmidt: Department of Social Work, Catholic University of Applied Sciences, 81667 Munich, Germany
Sandra Kus: Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology—IBE, Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
Clemens Koob: Department of Health and Nursing, Catholic University of Applied Sciences, 81667 Munich, Germany
Michaela Coenen: Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology—IBE, Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-14

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging period of upheaval for higher education students. This study aims to assess the factors associated with psychological stress during the COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of students in health-related fields at Munich universities in Germany. Students ( n = 623) from KSH Munich and LMU Munich completed an online cross-sectional survey. Information on demographics and academic and everyday difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as data on physical and mental health were collected. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the outcome. The prevalence for higher psychological stress was 44% among the study population. Factors associated with higher psychological stress were: lower overall life satisfaction ( p < 0.0001), worsened health situation ( p < 0.0001), lack of social support ( p = 0.0301) and social interaction ( p = 0.0115), worries about financial difficulties due to loss of income ( p = 0.0134), stressful thoughts about a second wave ( p < 0.0001), feeling unable to positively influence the situation ( p = 0.0262) and study-related effects, such as perceived study burden ( p = 0.0003) and likely delay in studies ( p = 0.0178)). The COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant negative impact on the mental health of students in health-related fields. Proactive efforts to support the mental health and well-being of students are needed.

Keywords: coronavirus; COVID-19; mental health; psychological stress; students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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