Negative COVID-19 impacts and depressive symptoms over time among first-year college students

• Published in: Journal of American college health Vol. 72; no. 1; p. 219
• Main Authors: Monte, Victoria, Ang, Jen Ying-Zhen, Tsai, William
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 2024
• Subjects: COVID-19; first-year college students; sociodemographic identities; depressive symptoms; mental health; intersectionality
• ISSN: 1940-3208
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2032085

This study examined the disruptions to social life, financial impact, and academic concerns caused by COVID-19 experienced by first-year college students, as well as their associations with depressive symptoms over time. Five hundred and thirty freshman college students completed an online survey at baseline and 14-week follow-up. We found that female students reported greater COVID-19 academic concerns than males. Black students endorsed lower COVID-19 academic concerns and Latinx students reported greater negative COVID-19 financial impact compared to other ethnic groups. First-generation college students reported greater negative COVID-19 financial impact than domestic students. COVID-19 academic concerns and negative social and financial impacts were associated with greater depressive symptoms at baseline. However, only COVID-19 academic concerns were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms over time. Findings suggest that the academic, social, and financial disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have negative mental health consequences that should be addressed in research and university settings.