Depressive symptoms in higher education students during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. An examination of the association with various social risk factors across multiple high- and middle-income countries

Velde, Sarah Van de; Buffel, Veerle; Heijde, Claudia van der; Çoksan, Sami; Bracke, Piet; Abel, Theodora M.; Busse, Heide; Zeeb, Hajo; Rabiee-Khan, Fatemeh; Stathopoulou, Theoni; Hal, Guido Van; Ladner, Joël; Tavolacci, Marie‐Pierre; Tholen, Robert; Wouters, Edwin

doi:10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100936

Cited by 38 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…The fact that universities were closed and students had to get used to online teaching may have reduced students' social contacts and increased isolation. Particularly students with higher levels of fear of COVID-19 infection were found to reduce social contacts in previous studies [12,27]. Taking the prevalence of depressive disorders in student populations prior to the pandemic into consideration [28], it is conceivable that the measures, including social distancing and self-isolation, may have had a negative impact on students' mental well-being, as previously suggested by Karasmanaki and Tsantopoulos [29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Fear of Infection and Depressive Symptoms among German University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of COVID-19 International Student Well-Being Study

Spatafora

Fialho

Busse

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant psychological impact at the population level and fear of infection is one of the stressors involved. The study aimed to examine fear of infection and associations with university students’ depressive symptoms, substance use, and social contacts during the COVID-19 outbreak in Germany in May 2020. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted at four German universities (n = 5.021, 69% female, mean age: 24 years) as part of the COVID-19 International Student Well-being Study. Fear of infection was assessed using self-generated items, depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Scale (CES-D-8). Associations between fear of infection and depressive symptoms were analyzed with linear regressions, controlling for sociodemographic variables. A total of 34% of the participants reported feeling worried about getting infected themselves, 75% were worried about someone from their personal network getting infected, and 78% feared that individuals close to them would get severely ill after infection. Sixteen percent of the variance of depressive symptoms could be explained by fear of infection (p ≤ 0.001). Students’ fear of infection should be considered in student communication and counseling to prevent worsening of mental health in this population.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Fear of Infection and Depressive Symptoms among German University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of COVID-19 International Student Well-Being Study

Spatafora

Fialho

Busse

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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“…moving back to the parental home), loss of student jobs, financial worries and uncertainty about the employment possibilities when graduating. 10 These unintended effects of containment measures may have led to increased levels of depressive symptoms. Further research is recommended to investigate the underlying pathways that explain the effect of these measures on students’ mental health.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent evidence indeed points to elevated levels of depressive symptoms in higher education students during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to cross-national variation therein. 8 , 10 However, there are, to date, no studies on how the variation in containment and economic support measures relates to cross-national variation in depressive symptoms among students. The current paper fills this gap in the literature by (i) describing the cross-national variation in depressive symptoms in students in the participating countries during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and (ii) examining which containment and economic measures explain these cross-national differences in depressive symptoms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Depressive symptoms in higher education students during the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of containment measures

Buffel

Velde

Akvardar

et al. 2022

European Journal of Public Health

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Background Students are a vulnerable group for the indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly their mental health. This paper examined the cross-national variation in students' depressive symtoms and whether this can be related to the various protective measures implemented in response to the initial stage of the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods Student data stem from the COVID-19 International Student Well-being Study, covering 26 countries during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Country-level data on government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic were retrieved from the Oxford COVID-19 Tracker. Multilevel analyses were performed to estimate the impact of the containment and economic support measures on students' depressive symptoms (n = 78 312). Results School and workplace closures, and stay-at-home restrictions were positively related to students' depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, while none of the economic support measures significantly related to depressive symptoms. Countries' scores on the index of these containment measures explained 1.5% of the cross-national variation in students' depressive symptoms (5.3%). This containment index's effect was stable, even when controlling for the economic support index, students' characteristics, and countries' epidemiological context and economic conditions. Conclusions Our findings raise concerns about the potential adverse effects of existing containment measures (especially the closure of schools and workplaces and stay-at-home restrictions) on students' mental health.

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“…For students from lower income families, these stressors were seen as being compounded by limited space for productive schoolwork and confidential telemedicine visits at home. Consistent with these comments, an international study of the effects of the pandemic on students of higher education reported greater depressive symptoms for U.S. students than most other countries and for students with less social support or from more disadvantaged backgrounds (Van de Velde et al, 2021) In the United States, additional stressors for students of color may reflect higher rates of infection, severe disease, and death (Koma et al, 2020). In regard to practice implications, student health programs and other clinicians may need to consider active outreach to identify vulnerable students who require additional support and to evaluate novel models of peer group support.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Telemedicine and mental health care of young adults during COVID-19: A qualitative study.

Turner¹,

Siegel²

2022

Practice Innovations

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To examine barriers and facilitators to mental health care and use of telemedicine for university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key informant interviews of mental health clinicians in 1 university addressed the impact of COVID-19 on students' mental health, adoption of telemedicine, and general mental health care. Theoretical thematic analysis identified positive and negative effects on care. Interviews with 6 psychologists and 4 psychiatrists (50% of invitees; 3 men and 7 women) highlighted social isolation and lifestyle restrictions as primary contributors to prevalent mood disorders. Telemedicine offered accessibility, safety, and efficiency but limitations included: technical problems; patient distraction; lack of confidentiality; compromised therapeutic alliance; and management of unstable patients. Lower-income students were described as commonly lacking peer support and an appropriate setting for telemedicine visits. Mental health clinicians described university students as commonly affected by mental health disorders. Telemedicine offered safer, accessible care but, for mental health care, was limited by lack of confidentiality, patient distraction, and care for unstable patients. Lower income patients were especially challenged by less peer support and privacy for telemedicine. Clinical Impact StatementStudy clinicians highlighted negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health that required rapid adoption of safe, accessible remote care via telemedicine. Yet for mental health, challenges with telemedicine require innovative strategies to promote patient engagement, foster a therapeutic alliance, and manage unstable patients remotely.

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Depressive symptoms in higher education students during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. An examination of the association with various social risk factors across multiple high- and middle-income countries

Cited by 38 publications

References 48 publications

Fear of Infection and Depressive Symptoms among German University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of COVID-19 International Student Well-Being Study

Fear of Infection and Depressive Symptoms among German University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of COVID-19 International Student Well-Being Study

Depressive symptoms in higher education students during the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of containment measures

Telemedicine and mental health care of young adults during COVID-19: A qualitative study.

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