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.
Highlights
As a public health emergency of international concern, COVID-19 has gained intense attention since its spread began in December 2019 [1]
The results showed mild to severe levels of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic spread in Tunisia healthcare students
Students’ psychological distress is a global issue and has become even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular for healthcare students who were more exposed than other students to risks, disease and death
Summary
As a public health emergency of international concern, COVID-19 has gained intense attention since its spread began in December 2019 [1]. Organization (WHO) declared the emergence of COVID-19 as a major public health emergency of worldwide concern [2]. When it is unfamiliar, highly contagious and fatal, such as with the COVID-19 virus, a variety of psychological problems have been common reactions to the pandemic, which may lead to mental health problems [3].
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