Mental Health during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Optimism and Emotional Regulation

Imen Krifa, Llewellyn Ellardus van Zyl, Amel Braham, Selma Ben Nasr and Rebecca Shankland
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Imen Krifa: Université de Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Mental illness Epidemiology Research Laboratory LR12ES04, Screening and Early Management, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
Llewellyn Ellardus van Zyl: Department of Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences, University of Eindhoven, 5612 Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Amel Braham: Université de Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Mental illness Epidemiology Research Laboratory LR12ES04, Screening and Early Management, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
Selma Ben Nasr: Université de Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Mental illness Epidemiology Research Laboratory LR12ES04, Screening and Early Management, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
Rebecca Shankland: Laboratory DIPHE (Development, Individual, Personality, Handicap, Education), Department of Psychology of Development, Education and Vulnerabilities, University Lumière Lyon 2, 69676 Bron, France

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: In light of different challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, university students are considered a particularly vulnerable population to mental health and study engagement issues. The first years at university represent a crucial period for students and are associated with an increase in mental health problems, particularly in healthcare studies. This study aimed (1) to document the current levels of mental health and study engagement among healthcare students in Tunisia, and (2) to investigate the relationships between emotional regulation, optimism, study engagement and common mental health problems (stress, anxiety and depression) among this population. A cross-sectional, electronic survey-based research design was used to draw a sample of 366 health care students from a University in Tunisia. Participants mostly reported mild (34.7%) or moderate (44.3%) levels of depression, moderate (44.7%) or severe (33.6%) levels of anxiety, average (50.8%) or mild (33.8%) levels of stress, and high levels of study engagement (>85%). Through structural equation modelling, the results showed that emotional regulation negatively affected stress, anxiety, and depression. Optimism partially mediated the relationship between emotional regulation, anxiety and depression and fully mediated the relationship between emotional regulation and study engagement. The findings indicated a high prevalence of psychological distress among healthcare university students in Tunisia, and specific protective factors that may be targeted to reduce mental health problems.

Keywords: COVID-19; emotional regulation; optimism; study engagement; anxiety; depression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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