Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Student Mental Health: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Although mental health among students has become a pressing public concern over recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic introduced new stressors, which may further increase the mental health burden for them. While past work has investigated links between pandemic related factors and student mental health and wellbeing, there is conflicting evidence around some symptoms (e.g., anxiety) and little work has focused on less common mental health conditions (e.g., eating disorders). Aims: The current study aimed to detail the prevalence of mental distress in the student population at an early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic and compare university students’ mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, we aimed to compare levels of depression, anxiety, and eating disorders in a large sample of students. Methods: We analysed data from a repeated cross-sectional survey on different samples of UK university students before the pandemic (n = 4812) and during the pandemic (n = 3817). Results: There were high levels of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 50% experiencing levels above the clinical cut-offs. Findings revealed a significant increase in symptoms of depression and anxiety from pre- to mid-pandemic as well as a significant increase in the prevalence of eating disorders. Conclusions: By late 2020, mental health in the student population had deteriorated compared to pre-pandemic levels. These findings provide evidence for increased levels of depression, anxiety, and eating disorders related to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need for better preparedness for future crises in order to mitigate the impact on student mental health.