Experiences, impacts and mental health functioning during a COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown: Data from a diverse New York City sample of college students

Abstract

In March 2020, New York City (NYC) experienced an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which resulted in a 78-day mass confinement of all residents other than essential workers. The aims of the current study were to (1) document the breadth of COVID-19 experiences and their impacts on college students of a minority-serving academic institution in NYC; (2) explore associations between patterns of COVID-19 experiences and psychosocial functioning during the prolonged lockdown, and (3) explore sex and racial/ethnic differences in COVID-19-related experiences and mental health correlates. A total of 909 ethnically and racially diverse students completed an online survey in May 2020. Findings highlight significant impediments to multiple areas of students’ daily life during this period (i.e., home life, work life, social environment, and emotional and physical health) and a vast majority reported heightened symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety. These life disruptions were significantly related to poorer mental health. Moreover, those who reported the loss of a close friend or loved one from COVID-19 (17%) experienced significantly more psychological distress than counterparts with other types of infection-related histories. Nonetheless, the majority (96%) reported at least one positive experience since the pandemic began. Our findings add to a growing understanding of COVID-19 impacts on psychological health and contribute the important perspective of the North American epicenter of the pandemic during the time frame of this investigation. We discuss how the results may inform best practices to support students’ well-being and serve as a benchmark for future studies of US student populations facing COVID-19 and its aftermath.

First-Year University Students’ Mental Health Trajectories Were Disrupted at the Onset of COVID-19, but Disruptions Were Not Linked to Housing and Financial Vulnerabilities: A Registered Report

“…Locally, activities had been business-as-usual up until one week before the March survey became available to participants. This is in stark contrast to a study of undergraduates in New York City who were surveyed around the same time but after living at least six weeks under shelter-at-home orders (López-Castro et al, 2021), of whom 17% reported the death of a family member or close friend to COVID-19. Clinically concerning symptoms of depression and anxiety were evident in 90% and 66% of students, respectively.…”

Increase in Social Isolation during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Association with Mental Health: Findings from the JACSIS 2020 Study

“…This may be partly due to the effect of confounding factors on the association between the prevalence of social isolation and psychological distress during the pandemic. Several studies have reported a link between lockdown or social distancing policies and poor mental health [30][31][32][33], including a Japanese study [33]. Since lockdown or social distancing policies may also lead to an increase in the prevalence of social isolation, it is difficult to distinguish the effects of lockdown or social distancing policies from the effects of social isolation on mental health.…”

Stress and depression in undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic: Nursing students compared to undergraduate students in non-nursing majors

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this alarming mental health trend. Eighty percent of college students report that pandemic-related closures of college campuses have negatively impacted their mental health ( Active Minds, 2020 ; López-Castro et al, 2021 ; Oh et al, 2021 ). Recent authors have identified dramatic increases in alcohol use among college students as a coping mechanism during the COVID-19 pandemic ( Bonar et al, 2021 ; Buckner et al, 2021 ; Coakley et al, 2021 ; Jackson et al, 2021 ).…”