Mental Health Of College Students Research Articles

Exploring College Students’ Subjective Health Perceptions According to Physical Activity Level

PURPOSE: This study provides fundamental data required to promote the physical and mental health of college students by exploring their subjective health perception relative to physical activity level.METHODS: Individual, in-depth interviews were conducted in 2023 to assess the subjective health perception of eight collegiate students relative to their physical activity levels.RESULTS: The findings indicated that university students do not adhere to physical activity guidelines, with variations in preferences and motivations for engaging in different types of physical activities. Muscle-strengthening exercises were performed most often, reflecting a specific focus on building strength and muscle mass. Although most participants considered themselves healthy, contrasting perceptions existed regarding factors such as alcohol consumption and smoking. The participants actively engaged in diverse physical activities, thereby expressing a positive perception of the value of exercise. Furthermore, the participants demonstrated a proactive approach to health management by avoiding unhealthy foods and incorporating health supplements, exhibiting a deep understanding and commitment to maintaining their well-being. Almost all participants reported overall improvement in stamina from intense physical activities. However, perspectives on the health-enhancing effects of moderate physical activity varied, with some participants expressing uncertainty and others considering it to be the most suitable exercise for their health conditions. Approximately 50% of the participants emphasized the health benefits of strength training, citing its positive effects on muscle strength and increased self-confidence through an improved external image.CONCLUSIONS: This study explored the subjective health perceptions related to physical activity among eight university students, revealing a preference for strength training, generally positive health perceptions, and proactive health management strategies. These findings emphasize the need for personalized exercise programs based on individual health conditions.

Examining How Exercise Influences the Mental Health of College Students: The Role of a Mediating Effect Model

Examining How Exercise Influences the Mental Health of College Students: The Role of a Mediating Effect Model

Analysis of the Influence of Sleep Patterns, Emotional Stability, and Quality of Social Relationships on Mental Health of College Students in West Java

This study investigates the interplay between sleep patterns, emotional stability, quality of social relationships, and mental health among college students in West Java. A sample of 250 students participated, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the relationships. The results revealed significant positive associations between sleep patterns, emotional stability, quality of social relationships, and mental health. Specifically, better sleep patterns, higher emotional stability, and improved social relationships were linked to enhanced mental health. These findings underscore the importance of a holistic approach to mental well-being on college campuses. Practical implications for interventions targeting sleep hygiene, emotional regulation, and social connection initiatives are discussed. The study contributes to the understanding of factors influencing mental health in the unique cultural context of West Java.

An analysis of the role of college students' core self-evaluation in the relationship between extracurricular physical exercise and academic stress.

To explore the role of college students' core self-evaluation in the association between extracurricular physical exercise and academic stress, and to provide a reference and basis for effectively alleviating current college students' academic stress. A stratified cluster random sampling method was used to conduct an online survey using the China College Student Mental Health Screening Scale, the Core Self-Esteem Scale, and a self-developed questionnaire for 1,249 college students from 8 junior colleges in Jiangsu Province, China, in January 2023, and analyses were conducted using bivariate correlation and mediation effect tests. More than half of the students were worried about lagging behind other students in their studies and worrying about exams, as well as more than half of the students had <2 h of extracurricular physical exercise per week in terms of academic stress. Significant correlations were found between extracurricular physical exercise time and core self-evaluation (r = 0.225, p < 0.01), academic stress (r = -0.317, p < 0.01), and between core self-evaluation and academic stress (r =-0.371, p < 0.01). Extracurricular physical exercise had a negative predictive effect on academic stress (effect = -0.306, 95%CI: -0.361~-0.251) and partially through the mediating path of core self-evaluation, (effect = -0.067, 95%CI: -0.091~-0.046), with a mediating effect of 21.9%. Among them, the mediating effect of core self-evaluation was highest in "worrying about lagging behind other students in their studies" and "worrying about exams", which accounted for 24.4% and 24.3% respectively. Currently, college students have different degrees of academic stress; extracurricular physical exercise can reduce academic stress through direct effects, and also through the indirect effect of improving the level of core self-evaluation, and active extracurricular physical exercise has become an important way to promote students' physical and mental health.

The mental health of college students and the level of academic achievement: Knowledge about psychological well-being, self-control, and college learning

The mental health of college students and the level of academic achievement: Knowledge about psychological well-being, self-control, and college learning

DORMITORY ENVIRONMENT, LEARNING ENGAGEMENT, AND COLLEGE STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF SURVEY DATA FROM 45 UNIVERSITIES IN CHINA

ABSTRACT In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, this research aimed to explore the relationship between dormitory environment, learning engagement, and mental health among college students, with a special focus on college students of different gender groups. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of students from 45 universities in China. For mental health, we tested students for depression using the 5-Item WHO Well-Being Index (WHO-5). The dormitory environment is exemplified by a typical four-person dormitory layout in China, which is assessed in four main areas: site location, functional layout, maintenance management, and view from the window. Meanwhile, we examined the relationship between mental health and the dormitory environment using learning engagement as a mediating variable. We found that the dormitory environment positively influences college students’ mental health through the mediating role of learning engagement. We found gender differences in mental health among Chinese college students. The mental health of male students was better than that of female students. More importantly, we found differences in the influence of dormitory environment on the mental health of college students in different gender groups. In the dormitory environment-learning engagement pathway, the influence was more pronounced for male students. In the learning engagement—mental health pathway, the total and indirect effects were more substantial for women than for men. As our study took place during the epidemic, the examination of the relationship between dormitory environment and college students’ mental health in this study will also inspire college administrators to pay more attention to the dormitory environment and support the development of public health policies to promote college students’ mental health. We encourage further research on the relationship between dormitory environment and college students’ mental health, which will promote the greening of college dormitories and improve college students’ mental health.

Status of the Psychological Resilience among the University Students

The present study aims to assess the level of psychological resilience among university students, taking into account variables such as gender, specialization, and study level. The significance of this study lies in the unique nature of the target sample, which comprises students from various disciplines and represents a crucial segment and the future foundation of society. To conduct the study, a stratified random sample was selected from three specified universities, with a sampling percentage of 0.05. The study sample consisted of 1060 male and female students. The researcher utilized a self-designed psychological resilience scale to collect data. The obtained data was then analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, employing statistical techniques such as the Pearson correlation coefficient, Alpha-Cronbach coefficient, one-sample t-test, two-independent samples t-test, and one-way analysis of variance. The results indicated a high level of psychological resilience among university students, as reflected in the total score of the resilience scale. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were observed between male and female students regarding their average resilience scores, with males showing higher levels of psychological resilience. However, no significant differences were found between genders in terms of self-efficacy and optimism dimensions on the psychological resilience scale. Moreover, the study revealed no statistically significant differences in the level of psychological resilience among students from different specializations or study levels. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the psychological well-being of this important segment of society, which can inform the development of targeted interventions and support systems to enhance the resilience and overall mental health of university students.

Changes and predictors of mental health of Chinese university students after the COVID-19 pandemic: A two-year study

BackgroundPsychological repurcussions of COVID-19 pandemic has received wide attention, but there's limited attention paid to psychological recovery afterwards. This study focuses on the changes and predictive factors of mental health of Chinese university students post-pandemic. MethodsThis study included 1175 Chinese undergraduate students sampled in May 2022 and May–June 2023, right before and after peaks of infections following the end of lockdown policy in China. The participants completed a survey of demographic variables, and three questionnaires: 12-item General Health Questionnaire, Positive Psychological Capital Questionnaire, and Prosocial Tendencies Measure. ResultsThe participants sampled in 2023 have significant lower GHQ scores and higher PPQ scores than those sampled in 2022, while there is no significant difference in PTM scores between them. The proportion of participants with GHQ-12 scores exceeding 12 in 2023 showed slightly decrease compared to that in 2022. The infection of significant others, the sense of hope, and PPQ self-efficiency, hope and optimism subscale scores were significantly associated with GHQ-12 scores in 2023, but actual infection or quarantine experience were not. ConclusionsThe mental health and psychological capital of the university students have been significantly improved within a year. It is worthy to pay attention to the infection of significant others, the sense of hope, and psychological capital in a pandemic to improve the mental health of university students. LimitationsCompared to a cross-sectional study, longitudinal research is the better choice for a two-year comparison.

Hovering Is Not Helping: Relationships among Helicopter Parenting, Attachment, Academic Outcomes, and Mental Health in College Students

Helicopter parenting (or overparenting) refers to developmentally inappropriate or intrusive tactics to control a child’s behavior. Helicopter parents are usually trying to help their children, but their behavior has been associated with adverse academic, adjustment, and mental health outcomes in older children (i.e., adolescents, young adults), who should be developing more autonomy. The current study examined potential associations between helicopter parenting, attachment security, and academic and mental health outcomes in college students, hypothesizing that higher rates of helicopter parenting would be associated with more insecure attachment with parental figures and closest friends, poorer mental health (i.e., higher rates of depression and/or anxiety), and reduced academic motivation, performance, and self-efficacy. Our sample of 135 college students completed measures of anxiety, depression, and somatization, academic self-efficacy and motivation, perceptions of parental involvement, and dimensions of attachment in multiple relationships (i.e., mother, father, and closest friend). As expected, the bivariate and regression analyses revealed that higher levels of parental involvement (i.e., helicopter parenting) predicted significantly more insecure parental and peer attachment, greater internalizing, and lower effort regulation among college students.

Risk and protective factors of suicidal tendencies among freshmen in China revealed by a hierarchical regression model.

This study aimed to identify risk and protective factors for suicidal tendencies among college students by exploring current mental health, personal experiences, family environment, and school adaptation. A total of 11,504 freshmen in China were recruited. Suicidal tendencies were assessed using the Adolescents Suicidal Tendencies Scale (ASTS), while explored risk and protective factors included mental health assessed by the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), campus adaptation using the College Student School Adaptation Scale, and Personal Situation Survey. Single-factor Logistic regression analysis, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis were used to analyze the risk and protective factors affecting suicidal tendencies. The results showed that in terms of personal experience, self-injury behavior (OR = 3.522, 95% CI [3.256, 3.811]), sexual assault experience (OR = 2.603, 95% CI [2.374, 2.855]) and lack of friendship relationship (OR = 2.249, 95% CI [2.076, 2.436]) were the most significant risk factors. Regarding family environment, parenting style (OR = 2.455, 95% CI [2.272, 2.652]), parent-child relationship (OR = 2.255, 95% CI [2.092, 2.429]) and violent conflict (OR = 2.164, 95% CI [2.015, 2.324]) were the most prominent risk factors. For protective factors, life satisfaction (OR = 0.330, 95% CI [0.304, 0.359]) and rest quality (OR = 0.415, 95% CI [0.386, 0.447]) were the most significant protective factors. In addition, Symptom Checklist-90 was positively correlated with suicidal tendencies (r = 0.541, 95% CI [0.522, 0.560], p < 0.001), while school adaptation was negatively correlated with suicidal tendencies (r = - 0.590, 95% CI [- 0.579, - 0.601], p < 0.001). After considering demographic variables, psychological symptoms, school adaptation and other risk and protective factors, the hierarchical regression model could explain 48.9% of the variance of suicidal tendencies. The study emphasizes a range of multidimensional risk and protective factors for suicidal tendencies. This enhanced understanding is crucial in aiding the design of future intervention studies targeted at improving the mental health of college students.

SOCIAL ISOLATION AND MENTAL HEALTH OF LATIN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: Systematic review

The objective of this study was to carry out a systematic review of publications that reported the assessment of the mental health of university students in Latin America specifically during the period of social isolation in the Covid-19 pandemic. The databases used for research were: Lilacs, PubMed, APA PsycInfo and Scielo to collect studies in english, spanish or portuguese. The database consultation took place in May 2022 and the descriptors adopted were: mental health, students and pandemic. The Boolean AND was used to combine the descriptors. Studies with undergraduates in institutions in Latin America were included, involving mental health and having been carried out during the period of social isolation. All publications that were not empirical studies, with other members of the academic community or in languages other than those used in the database consultation were excluded. The selection of eligible articles was carried out by two reviewers who assessed the quality of each study for subsequent data extraction. To synthesize the results, the thematic synthesis narrative approach was used. Were identified 6,150 publications initially, which resulted in 11 studies included after applying the eligibility criteria. The results reveal, with the exception of one study, that the quality of mental health of Latin American university students during the period of social isolation in the Covid-19 pandemic reduced. The main impacts reported involve an increase in levels of anxiety, stress and depression, as well as worsening sleep quality. It was observed that physical activity and pre-stress coping during this period served as protective factors for mental health. On the other hand, factors such as: sedentary lifestyle, economic instability, being female and having had Covid-19 were shown to aggravate the declining of individuals' mental health.

Trends and Challenges in the Mental Health of University Students with Disabilities: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review examines mental health in university students with disabilities, focusing on increasing prevalence and associated challenges. Following the PRISMA protocol for study selection and analysis, it aims to analyze problem prevalence and risk factors, explore support strategies and available resources, and identify gaps and areas for improvement in care and access to mental health services for disabled university students. This review includes 16 articles that met the established criteria. The findings reveal higher mental health issue prevalence in these students compared to non-disabled peers, highlighting the need for specific, tailored interventions. Improvement areas in general inclusion measures to prevent high-risk situations and intervention responses to discomfort and existing mental health problems are discussed. The importance of a holistic approach to ensure their overall well-being and academic success in an inclusive educational environment is emphasized.

Memahami Dampak Media Sosial terhadap Kesehatan Mental Mahasiswa

This study aims to explore the impact of social media use on the mental health of university students. Utilizing a qualitative approach, this study analyzes data from in-depth interviews with 10 students from various universities in Indonesia. Thematic analysis reveals that social media use contributes to various aspects of mental health, including anxiety, depression, and self-image disorders. The study identifies that interactions on social media often trigger social comparison and unrealistic expectations about personal life, contributing to a decline in psychological well-being. However, the results also indicate that social media can be a useful tool for supporting mental health, particularly through support communities and awareness of mental health issues. The researchers suggest a need to increase awareness of healthy and constructive social media use among students. This study also emphasizes the importance of mental health education and intervention programs in educational institutions. These results provide insights for policymakers, educators, and mental health practitioners in developing effective strategies to support the mental health of students in the digital era. This study paves the way for further research on the specific impact of social media features and algorithms on student mental health.

Intolerance of uncertainty and mental health in China "Post-pandemic" age: The mediating role of difficulties in emotion regulation.

The Chinese government adjusted its national epidemic prevention and control policy in December 2022 after the worldwide declaration of COVID-19 as a common influenza. After the policy adjustment, there has been widespread infection in China, which has brought a lot of uncertainty to the lives and studies of Chinese university students. This study focused on the impact of the intolerance of uncertainty for COVID-19 (IUC) on the emotional and mental health of college students in China "Post-pandemic" age. This study examined the mediating role of difficulties in emotion regulation (DER) between IUC and mental health (MH). 1,281 university students in China were surveyed using the intolerance of uncertainty for COVID-19 scale, the difficulties in emotion regulation scale and the mental health scale. A structural equation model was used to test the hypothesis model, and it was shown that IUC had a significant negative effect on the MH of college students and a significant positive effect on the DER. DER had a significant negative effect on the MH, and DER had a complete mediation effect between IUC and MH. The findings of this study enrich our understanding of the influencing factors of mental health of university students under the background of post-epidemic in China, and provide practical reference for universities on how to prevent mental health problems under the current uncertain environment in China.

The effectiveness of psychological interventions delivered online on the mental health of university students: New challenges for psychological sciences

The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of studies on the effectiveness of online psychological and psychotherapeutic interventions aimed at college students. Studies were identified through a search of PubMed and Scopus. Empirical studies included were in English language with peer review and focused on online psychological or psychotherapeutic interventions. 18 studies were selected. The predominant online intervention was cognitive-behavioral therapy. Online psychological interventions were found to be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression and treating other conditions. In addition, they have been shown to be at least as effective and acceptable as classical interventions. Interventions delivered online have been found to be effective in improving the mental health of college students. They represent a useful tool to be implemented in health services provided by universities.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction compared with cognitive behavioral therapy to improve sleep and mental health in university students with insomnia

Mindfulness-based stress reduction compared with cognitive behavioral therapy to improve sleep and mental health in university students with insomnia

Improving College Students’ Depression During an Acute Pandemic Disease with the KEEP Application

Background: During the Covid-19 epidemic, the number of downloads of sports apps surged, with people using sports apps to exercise and share social activities. Objective: This study aimed to explore the impact of college students using Keep APP to exercise on their mental health during the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods: This study utilized a longitudinal research methodology to conduct a 6-week intervention experiment with college students using the KEEP application based on the intervention criteria of the study. The psychological status of the university students before and after the experiment was evaluated through the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). On the basis of satisfying the normal distribution, the was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 60 college students participated in this study (22 boys and 38 girls). Among them, 46 people (76.7%) were infected with COVID-19. After a 6-week exercise intervention using Keep APP, through paired-sample t-tests, significant differences were observed in SDS scores before and after the experiment (t = 10.33, p = 0.051). The mean difference was 5.82, with a 95% confidence interval of [6.436, 9.197], indicating a moderate effect on depressive emotions in the experimental group. Similarly, SAS scores also showed significant differences before and after the experiment (t = 4.889, p = 0.005). The mean difference was 2.18, with a 95% confidence interval of [1.88, 4.486], demonstrating a moderate to large effect.There was no statistically significant effect of choice of exercise modality and frequency of exercise per week on scores in this study (P0.05). Additionally, the duration of exercise shows a significant effect on SAS scores (P =0.027). Conclusion: This study verified the impact of using Keep APP on the mental health of college students during the COVID-19 outbreak, and confirmed that the application can help improve students with mental health problems. These findings provide help in dealing with people’s mental health problems during sudden infectious diseases. Similarly, it also provides valuable insights for further research on software applications.

아동기 생애 부정적 및 긍정적 경험이 대학생 정신건강에 미치는 영향: 아동기 긍정적 경험의 조절효과 탐색

아동기 생애 부정적 및 긍정적 경험이 대학생 정신건강에 미치는 영향: 아동기 긍정적 경험의 조절효과 탐색

Retracted: Correlation between Parenting Style by Personality Traits and Mental Health of College Students.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2022/6990151.].

Prolonged Social Media Use and Its Association with Perceived Stress in Female College Students

ABSTRACT Background Extensive use of social media is well-documented as being associated with poor mental health in college students. Evidence of its association with perceived stress in this population is inconclusive. Purpose To examine the association between daily time spent on social media and perceived stress among U.S. college students. Methods Participants were 412 students (274 females, 138 males) from the Get your Fruits and Vegetables (GetFRUVED) project in a northeastern U.S. college. Students completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) questionnaire and reported daily minutes spent on social media. Linear regression was used to examine the association between social media use and self-reported stress. Results Female college students who used social media for >2 h per day reported higher stress levels than students who used social media for only 0–20 min daily. Discussion Our findings demonstrate an association between prolonged use of social media and higher stress levels among female college students. The impact of excessive social media on the stress response and psychological wellbeing should be further investigated in this population. Translation to Health Education Practice Campus efforts toward educating college students on the positive correlation between social media use and stress are warranted, with priority given to female students.