COVID-19 Stress and Mental Health of Students in Locked-Down Colleges

Xueyan Li, Ping Fu, Changyu Fan, Miao Zhu and Min Li
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Xueyan Li: School of Sociology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Ping Fu: School of Sociology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Changyu Fan: School of Sociology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Miao Zhu: School of Sociology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Min Li: School of Sociology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of students in locked-down colleges remains obscure. This study aimed to explore influencing factors for the psychological impact of COVID-19 on Wuhan college students, post-traumatic stress symptoms in particular, so as to inform evidence-based strategy development to ameliorate such adverse impacts. An online survey was conducted from 26 to 29 April 2020, and 4355 students enrolled in Wuhan universities and colleges participated. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder via the Impact of Event-Scale-Revised was assessed. COVID-19 disproportionately affected older male Master’s and doctoral students living in Wuhan. The overall prevalence of PTSD was 16.3%. The three-level socio-interpersonal model of PTSD was empirically validated, and college students faced individual level risks such as infection with COVID-19, close relationship level risks such as family support (infection suspicion of family members, the loss of loved ones, and the family income decrease) and online course difficulties (little interaction, disturbing learning environment, and difficulty in adaption), and distant level risks such as excessive collection of personal information, estrangement of family relatives, and harassment and insult from strangers. The findings suggest the severity of the psychological impact of COVID-19. Mental health services reducing PTSD should be provided. Students who have lost loved ones and suffered family financial loss should be given particular care.

Keywords: COVID-19; university and college student; mental health; post-traumatic stress disorder (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 (5)

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