Abstract
Introduction: While mitigation procedures are needed to prevent the continuous spread of COVID-19, they may, in turn, negatively impact individuals’ mental health. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the relationships between loneliness, rumination, and depression, as well as the mediating role of rumination in the relationship between loneliness and depression in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was circulated, collecting a final sample of 288 university students (Mage = 22.01, SD = 3.45, range = 18–55, 75.7% female). Study variables were measured utilizing self-report questionnaires. Results: In line with the hypotheses, rumination partially mediated the relationship between loneliness and depression. Discussion: Therefore, ruminative thoughts may be one of the key factors contributing to lonely university students’ susceptibility to depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlights
IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
This study has investigated the mental health of university students during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
The results indicated that, compared to non-pandemic circumstances, university students during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced an increase in loneliness, rumination, and depression [42,43,44]
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Unprecedented, the current COVID-19 pandemic has revealed itself to be one of the most devastating and deadliest health crises in recent history. More than a year following the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), approximately 175 million people have already contracted the disease and more than 3.8 million deaths have been reported [1]. Governments worldwide were forced to implement several mitigation procedures, including social distancing, isolation, and quarantine [2]. While these measures are needed to prevent the continuous spread of COVID-19, they contrast with the basic human need for social connection and may, contribute to the development of mental health problems
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