Mental Health and Loneliness in University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and its preventive measures had adverse consequences for mental health. However, knowledge of mental health trajectories across the pandemic is limited. This study investigated the mental health levels and changes among university students during the pandemic and lockdown in Germany, as well as their associated factors. We surveyed students' mental health (N = 363, 68% female) with the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-8) and the generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7) during the first easing phase (July 2020; time 1) and the second lockdown (November 2020; time 2). Cut-off scores from the GAD-7 and PHQ-8 were used to determine clinically relevant symptoms and to define trajectory groups. Sociodemographic and pandemic-related data were assessed (e.g., coping with academic life, social contacts) as well as loneliness, stress, repetitive negative thinking, quality of life, and perceived social support. Paired t-test, multiple regression, and repeated-measures ANOVA were applied. Means and prevalence rates for symptoms of depression (38.8%) and anxiety (25.6%) did not differ between time 1 and time 2, and most students were asymptomatic on the PHQ-8 (44.4%) and the GAD-7 (56.3%) across the pandemic. Feelings of loneliness significantly increased from time 1 to time 2, d = −0.30, [−0.47, −0.13], with higher symptom levels in symptomatic groups at time 2 and greater increases in the asymptomatic groups. Levels of stress, repetitive negative thinking, quality of life, and social support did not differ during the pandemic. At time 1, loneliness and repetitive negative thinking were associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were prevalent among students, and increased levels of loneliness during the pandemic were associated with elevated symptoms and differing trajectories. Further research using representative and larger samples should determine the long-term impact of the pandemic on mental health and loneliness to identify vulnerable students and offer adequate support.

University Students’ Mental Health and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from the UniCoVac Qualitative Study

“…The impact appeared to have been more significant on those living in students’ accommodation or living by themselves as they experienced greater loneliness. This finding raises concern as previous studies, both before and after the pandemic, have evidenced the impact of loneliness on young people’s mental health, with greater loneliness associated with greater mental health problems [ 43 , 44 , 45 ]. Studies looking at social connectedness, loneliness and students’ mental health in the aftermath of the pandemic are needed to arrive at a clearer picture of any long-lasting impacts that the pandemic may have had on students’ mental health.…”

Assessment of Loneliness During the Pandemic: Comparing Various Short Forms of the UCLA Loneliness Scale in South Africa Using Classical Test Theory and Mokken Analysis

“…It consists of 20 items with a fourpoint scale ranging from 1 (Never) to 4 (Often). The estimates of internal consistency range from 0.88-0.93, as found in various studies [10][11][12][13][14][21][22][23][24][25]. Two South African studies reported acceptable reliability (0.81 and 0.92) for the UCLA-20 when used with student samples [46,47].…”

“…Although loneliness was considered to be a salient public health concern even before the COVID-19 outbreak, primarily due to its effect on mental and physical outcomes, the pandemic and its containment measures increased social isolation and loneliness. Many studies conducted in different contexts and among various population groups reached a similar conclusion [10,13,14]. Researchers generally conceptualize loneliness as either unidimensional (i.e., a unitary phenomenon that varies in perceived intensity but is similar across situations) or multidimensional (i.e., a multifaceted phenomenon that cannot be captured by a single global loneliness measure).…”

“…This might be due to several factors, including a decrease in compliance with social distancing and quarantine measures and an increase in the use of technology to connect with others [11,12]. Some studies focused on identifying sub-groups of the population that might be more susceptible to loneliness, including adolescents [8], the elderly [13], and university students [14], as well as the correlates of loneliness. Changes in the romantic status during the pandemic, loss of a significant other due to infection, young individuals, living alone, and pre-existing mental health problems are associated with the risk of loneliness [12].…”

Experiences Shared by the (Future) Public Health Workforce during the COVD-19 Pandemic in Germany: Results of A Survey on Workload, Work Content, and Related Challenges among Students and Young Professionals

“…To our knowledge, this is the first study focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on workload, work content, and related challenges among the public health workforce in Germany, which includes data on students and young professionals. Previous studies in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic have either focused on specific aspects -particularly related to digital teaching -within medical students or healthcare personnel [22][23][24] or on mental health issues due to social isolation [1,25]. Although knowledge is available that as an adverse effect of the COVID-19 pandemic education and job training have been disrupted or delayed for many young adults and traditional ways of working encountered serious challenges [26], there has been limited attention on the public health workforce [27,28] in Germany.…”