Abstract
Higher education students’ mental health has been a growing concern in recent years even before the COVID-19 pandemic. The stresses and restrictions associated with the pandemic have put university students at greater risk of developing mental health issues, which may significantly impair their academic success, social interactions and their future career and personal opportunities. This paper aimed to understand the mental health status of University students at an early stage in the pandemic and to investigate factors associated with higher levels of distress. An online survey including demographics, lifestyle/living situations, brief mental well-being history, questions relating to COVID-19 and standardised measures of depression, anxiety, resilience and quality of life was completed by 1173 students at one University in the North of England. We found high levels of anxiety and depression, with more than 50% experiencing levels above the clinical cut offs, and females scoring significantly higher than males. The survey also suggested relatively low levels of resilience which we attribute to restrictions and isolation which reduced the opportunities to engage in helpful coping strategies and activities rather than enduring personality characteristics. Higher levels of distress were associated with lower levels of exercising, higher levels of tobacco use, and a number of life events associated with the pandemic and lockdown, such as cancelled events, worsening in personal relationships and financial concerns. We discuss the importance of longer-term monitoring and mental health support for university students.
Highlights
The mental well-being of higher education students was a growing concern even before the COVID-19 pandemic, with increasing numbers of students experiencing mental health problems as reported by UK Parliament Briefing Paper [1]
This paper describes a relatively large survey of undergraduate and postgraduate students which investigates different aspects of mental health and coping, The mental health of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic including anxiety, depression, the resilience to cope with difficulties, quality of life and general health, and a range of questions on demographics, lifestyle/ living situation and COVID-19 related factors
One third of the students were living in the University town, with 23% living in nearby cities and 43% living in various other places
Summary
The mental well-being of higher education students was a growing concern even before the COVID-19 pandemic, with increasing numbers of students experiencing mental health problems as reported by UK Parliament Briefing Paper [1]. Community surveys suggest that common mental health problems, anxiety and depression, generally affect one in six people in a given week in England [2], and concerns were expressed early in the pandemic about the mental health impact of the pandemic on the general population [3], at least in the short term. The mental health of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic higher education students, the pandemic presented a number of specific challenges, such as the transfer of more learning and support services online, which many students found difficult to engage effectively [4], leading to increased anxiety and concerns about their academic performances and long-term employment [5, 6]. The lockdown and social distancing measures led to limited opportunities for socialising and establishing relationships, with greater reliance on social media, and possible chronic loneliness brought by social isolation [7]
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