Depressive Symptoms in Swiss University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Correlates

Thomas Volken, Annina Zysset, Simone Amendola, Anthony Klein Swormink, Marion Huber, Agnes von Wyl and Julia Dratva
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Thomas Volken: Department of Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland
Annina Zysset: Department of Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland
Simone Amendola: Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Anthony Klein Swormink: Department of Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland
Marion Huber: Department of Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland
Agnes von Wyl: School of Applied Psychology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland
Julia Dratva: Department of Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: Background: COVID-19 containment measures and the uncertainties associated with the pandemic may have contributed to changes in mental health risks and mental health problems in university students. Due to the high burden of the disease, depression is of particular concern. However, knowledge about the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Swiss university students during the pandemic is limited. We therefore assessed the prevalence of depressive symptoms and their change during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large sample of Swiss university students. Methods: We assessed depressive symptoms in two cross-sectional cohorts of university students ( n = 3571) in spring and autumn 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and compared them with a matched sample of the Swiss national population ( n = 2328). Binary logistic regression models estimated prevalence with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: Adjusted prevalence of depressive symptoms in female (30.8% (95% CI: 28.6–33.0)) and male students (24.8% (95% CI: 21.7–28.1)) was substantially higher than in the matching female (10.9% (95% CI: 8.9–13.2)) and male (8.5% (6.6–11.0)) pre-pandemic national population. Depressive symptoms in the two consecutive student cohorts did not significantly differ. Conclusions: More than a quarter of Swiss university students reported depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was substantially higher as compared to the matched general population. Universities should introduce measures to support students in such times of crisis and gain an understanding of the factors impacting mental health positively or negatively and related to university structures and procedures.

Keywords: depression; COVID-19; PHQ-9; students; pandemic; mental health; health survey; young adult (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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