Abstract
Students worldwide have been impacted by nationwide safety closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, creating an environment with loss of interaction with colleagues, social isolation, boredom, and economic uncertainty. Since university students were considered uniquely vulnerable to mental health problems even before the pandemic, this study aimed to investigate lifestyle and behavioral changes experienced by this population due to the epidemiological situation and their effect on their mental health. Data were collected via an online survey conducted among university students across Poland. The survey addressed recent lifestyle changes that were a result of the pandemic as well as psychological distress, symptoms of insomnia and symptoms of post-traumatic stress. The results indicate that protective factors include maintaining a daily routine, staying physically active, following a usual eating pattern and taking care of sleep hygiene. Changes in behavior contributing to poorer mental health included giving up a daily routine, neglecting meals, tidiness, hygiene as well as social relationships, changes in food intake, sleeping schedule, a decrease in physical activity and the onset of sexual dysfunctions. A history of psychiatric treatment and an increase in self-harm as well as an increase in alcohol and tobacco consumption were also found to be associated with psychological distress. Experienced lifestyle and behavioral changes and their impact on mental health were apparent throughout the obtained data, highlighting the need for psychological support in the studied population. Based on the results we were able to establish a list of protective and risk factors influencing the everyday life and psychological wellbeing of students amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, which could also be translated into life skills.
Highlights
For more than a year, the entire globe has been affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which was first detected in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan, China
The presented findings paint a picture of profound changes in lifestyle and everyday functioning experienced by college students in Poland during the pandemic
In accordance with our results, that suggest that the ability to maintain a daily routine was significantly related to lower psychological distress, regularizing and maintaining daily routines has been previously mentioned as a protective factor during the COVID-19 pandemic [30]
Summary
For more than a year, the entire globe has been affected by the coronavirus disease 2019. (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which was first detected in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan, China. This pandemic has infected more than 177 million people in 222 countries around the world and has resulted in a devastating threat to human society in terms of health, economy, interpersonal relations, and daily habits. As the spread of the epidemic continues, strict isolation measures and delays in starting schools, colleges, and universities occur across the globe. In Poland, since the 25th of March (with a short period break in September), all schools, colleges, and universities.
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