TY - JOUR
T1 - Association between COVID-19-related loneliness or worry and symptoms of anxiety and depression among first-year college students
AU - Mehus, Christopher J.
AU - Lyden, Grace
AU - Bonar, Erin E.
AU - Gunlicks-Stoessel, Meredith
AU - Morrell, Nicole
AU - Parks, Michael J.
AU - Wagner, Anna C
AU - Patrick, Megan E
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2021/7/9
Y1 - 2021/7/9
N2 - Objective: To examine the relationship between COVID-19-related distress and mental health among first-year college students. Participants: Data for this longitudinal study (n = 727) were collected before the school year (August 2019), end of fall semester (December 2019), and soon after the university suspended in-person instruction (April 2020). Methods: We used multivariable log-linear and logistic regressions to examine continuous and dichotomous outcomes on the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale. Results: The most consistent predictor of during-pandemic mental health was feeling extremely isolated (versus not at all), which was associated with increased symptom severity of depression (proportional change[95% CI] = 2.43[1.87, 3.15]) and anxiety (2.02[1.50, 2.73]) and greater odds of new moderate depression (OR[95% CI] = 14.83[3.00, 73.41]) and anxiety (24.74[2.91, 210.00]). Greater COVID-19-related concern was also related to increased mental health symptoms. Conclusions: Results highlight the need for mental health services during crises that lead to social isolation.
AB - Objective: To examine the relationship between COVID-19-related distress and mental health among first-year college students. Participants: Data for this longitudinal study (n = 727) were collected before the school year (August 2019), end of fall semester (December 2019), and soon after the university suspended in-person instruction (April 2020). Methods: We used multivariable log-linear and logistic regressions to examine continuous and dichotomous outcomes on the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale. Results: The most consistent predictor of during-pandemic mental health was feeling extremely isolated (versus not at all), which was associated with increased symptom severity of depression (proportional change[95% CI] = 2.43[1.87, 3.15]) and anxiety (2.02[1.50, 2.73]) and greater odds of new moderate depression (OR[95% CI] = 14.83[3.00, 73.41]) and anxiety (24.74[2.91, 210.00]). Greater COVID-19-related concern was also related to increased mental health symptoms. Conclusions: Results highlight the need for mental health services during crises that lead to social isolation.
KW - Anxiety
KW - COVID-19
KW - depression
KW - loneliness
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U2 - 10.1080/07448481.2021.1942009
DO - 10.1080/07448481.2021.1942009
M3 - Article
C2 - 34242555
AN - SCOPUS:85110411111
SN - 0744-8481
VL - 71
SP - 1332
EP - 1337
JO - Journal of American College Health
JF - Journal of American College Health
IS - 5
ER -