Investigating Mental Health of US College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Sep 8, 2020Journal of medical Internet research

Mental Health of US College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Abstract

Among 2031 surveyed college students, 48.14% showed a moderate-to-severe level of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

38.48% of participants experienced moderate-to-severe anxiety.
18.04% reported having suicidal thoughts.
71.26% indicated that their stress and anxiety levels increased due to the pandemic.
Only 43.25% felt they were coping adequately with pandemic-related stress.
Participants expressed concerns related to academics, health, and lifestyle changes caused by the pandemic.

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BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has generally increased levels of stress and depression among the public. However, the impact on college students in the United States has not been well-documented.

OBJECTIVE: This paper surveys the mental health status and severity of depression and anxiety of college students in a large university system in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS: An online survey was conducted among undergraduate and graduate students recruited from Texas A&M University via email. The survey consisted of two standardized scales-the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the General Anxiety Disorder-7-for depression and anxiety, and additional multiple-choice and open-ended questions regarding stressors and coping mechanisms specific to COVID-19.

RESULTS: Among the 2031 participants, 48.14% (n=960) showed a moderate-to-severe level of depression, 38.48% (n=775) showed a moderate-to-severe level of anxiety, and 18.04% (n=366) had suicidal thoughts. A majority of participants (n=1443, 71.26%) indicated that their stress/anxiety levels had increased during the pandemic. Less than half of the participants (n=882, 43.25%) indicated that they were able to cope adequately with the stress related to the current situation.

CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of respondents showing depression, anxiety, and/or suicidal thoughts is alarming. Respondents reported academic-, health-, and lifestyle-related concerns caused by the pandemic. Given the unexpected length and severity of the outbreak, these concerns need to be further understood and addressed.

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Investigating Mental Health of US College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Survey Study

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