College Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Prior to and during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Material and Methods
2.1. Survey Design and Procedure
2.2. Sample
Variables and Instruments
2.3. Data Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Depression (PHQ-9) Scores
3.2. Anxiety (GAD-7) Scores
3.3. Impact of Pandemic on College Experiences
3.4. Impact of Pandemic on Other Aspects of Life
4. Discussion
Limitations
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Total | NI | ROI | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PHQ-9 Scores | N | M | SD | N | M | SD | N | M | SD |
Year 1 (2019) | 497 | 4.67 | 5.43 | 406 | 4.33 | 5.20 | 91 | 6.18 | 6.17 |
Year 2 (2020) | 497 | 6.44 | 5.63 | 406 | 6.42 | 5.59 | 91 | 6.52 | 5.81 |
Year 3 (2021) | 497 | 6.05 | 5.74 | 406 | 6.04 | 5.70 | 91 | 6.08 | 5.92 |
End Year 3 (2022) | 229 | 7.41 | 6.19 | 180 | 7.25 | 5.98 | 49 | 8.04 | 6.97 |
Total | NI | ROI | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GAD-7 Scores | N | M | SD | N | M | SD | N | M | SD |
Year 1 (2019) | 499 | 6.70 | 6.54 | 413 | 6.83 | 6.67 | 86 | 6.08 | 5.87 |
Year 2 (2020) | 499 | 5.90 | 5.24 | 413 | 5.78 | 5.17 | 86 | 6.50 | 5.55 |
Year 3 (2021) | 499 | 5.58 | 5.25 | 413 | 5.58 | 5.23 | 86 | 5.69 | 5.37 |
End Year 3 (2022) | 229 | 6.85 | 5.73 | 180 | 6.67 | 5.62 | 49 | 7.51 | 6.15 |
Very Positive % | Positive % | Neutral % | Negative % | Very Negative % | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Social aspects of college life | 4.8 | 3.5 | 19.2 | 29.3 | 43.2 |
Sense of belonging in college | 3.9 | 7.9 | 30.1 | 29.7 | 28.4 |
Interacting with others—academic staff, peers, etc. | 6.6 | 10.0 | 20.1 | 38.0 | 25.3 |
Opportunities for summer work, internships or exchanges | 5.2 | 10.0 | 31.9 | 30.1 | 22.7 |
Hands on experience/practical work (10.9% not applicable) | 10.0 | 7.4 | 20.1 | 29.3 | 22.3 |
Being prepared for the future | 6.1 | 14.4 | 29.7 | 31.9 | 17.9 |
Employment opportunities | 6.6 | 12.7 | 36.7 | 26.6 | 17.5 |
Volunteering opportunities | 3.9 | 8.3 | 41.5 | 28.8 | 17.5 |
Opportunities for independent living | 7.0 | 12.7 | 41.9 | 21.8 | 16.6 |
Plans to continue at college | 6.6 | 15.7 | 41.0 | 21.4 | 15.3 |
Placement experience (18.8% not applicable) | 10.9 | 10.0 | 22.7 | 22.7 | 14.8 |
Opportunities to realise career aspirations | 8.3 | 14.4 | 38.0 | 26.6 | 12.7 |
Academic achievement/grades | 6.1 | 17.5 | 30.6 | 33.6 | 12.2 |
Being prepared for exams | 6.1 | 13.5 | 35.4 | 33.6 | 11.4 |
Completing assessments or assignments | 7.4 | 21.8 | 26.6 | 33.2 | 10.9 |
Very Positive % | Positive % | Neutral % | Negative % | Very Negative % | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Social life | 0.9 | 6.6 | 17.5 | 45.0 | 30.1 |
Lifestyle | 3.9 | 13.5 | 26.2 | 43.2 | 13.1 |
Ability to participate in physical activity | 3.9 | 17.5 | 27.5 | 40.2 | 10.9 |
Diet | 3.1 | 11.8 | 31.0 | 39.3 | 14.8 |
Access to mental health services/medical support | 4.8 | 8.3 | 38.9 | 32.2 | 15.7 |
Finances | 4.8 | 24.5 | 28.8 | 26.6 | 15.3 |
Relationship with friends | 7.4 | 20.1 | 38.9 | 26.6 | 7.0 |
Relationship with family | 12.2 | 32.3 | 35.8 | 12.2 | 7.4 |
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McLafferty, M.; Ward, C.; Walsh, C.P.; O’Neill, S.; Bjourson, A.J.; McHugh, R.; Brown, N.; McBride, L.; Brady, J.; Murray, E.K. College Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Prior to and during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Educ. Sci. 2023, 13, 1154. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13111154
McLafferty M, Ward C, Walsh CP, O’Neill S, Bjourson AJ, McHugh R, Brown N, McBride L, Brady J, Murray EK. College Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Prior to and during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Education Sciences. 2023; 13(11):1154. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13111154
Chicago/Turabian StyleMcLafferty, Margaret, Caoimhe Ward, Colum P. Walsh, Siobhan O’Neill, Anthony J. Bjourson, Rachel McHugh, Natasha Brown, Louise McBride, John Brady, and Elaine K. Murray. 2023. "College Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Prior to and during the COVID-19 Pandemic" Education Sciences 13, no. 11: 1154. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13111154