College Mental Health Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From a Nationwide Survey

• Published in: Cognitive therapy and research Vol. 46; no. 1; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Kim, Hanjoo, Rackoff, Gavin N., Fitzsimmons-Craft, Ellen E., Shin, Ki Eun, Zainal, Nur Hani, Schwob, Jeremy T., Eisenberg, Daniel, Wilfley, Denise E., Taylor, C. Barr, Newman, Michelle G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.02.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alcohol use; Anorexia; Anxiety disorders; Black students; Bulimia; Bulimia nervosa; Clinical Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Comorbidity; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Demography; Eating disorders; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental depression; Mental health; Original; Original Article; Pandemics; Post traumatic stress disorder; Quality of Life Research; Sleep disorders; Trends; COVID-19; Pandemic; College students; Psychological disorders
• ISSN: 0147-5916; 1573-2819
• DOI: 10.1007/s10608-021-10241-5

Background The COVID-19 pandemic could affect college students’ mental health. We examined screening rates for psychological disorders before and during the pandemic. Methods Undergraduates were surveyed before ( n  = 3643) or during the pandemic ( n  = 4970). Logistic regression adjusting for participant demographics was conducted. Results Frequencies of depression [OR 1.32, 95% CI (1.17, 1.48)], alcohol use disorder [OR 1.70, 95% CI (1.50, 1.93)], bulimia nervosa/binge-eating disorder [OR 1.54, 95% CI (1.28, 1.85)], and comorbidity [OR 1.19, 95% CI (1.04, 1.35)] were greater during (vs. before) the pandemic. Frequencies of posttraumatic stress disorder were lower during the pandemic [OR 0.86, 95% CI (0.75, 0.98)]. The upward trend in alcohol use disorder was stronger among women than men [OR 1.47, 95% CI (1.18, 1.83)]. The upward trend in depression was stronger among Black students than White students [OR 1.72, 95% CI (1.19, 2.49)]. Anxiety disorders, insomnia, anorexia nervosa, and suicidality showed no significant trends. Conclusions Depression, alcohol use disorder, bulimia nervosa/binge-eating disorder, and comorbidity were higher, whereas posttraumatic stress disorder was lower during the pandemic. Women and Black students could face especially heightened risk for alcohol use disorder and depression, respectively, during the pandemic.