Characterizing changes in mental health‐related outcomes for health service psychology graduate students during the first year of the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract

Objectives Health service psychology (HSP) graduate students experienced adverse mental health outcomes during COVID‐19. However, little is known about how mental health outcomes changed in this population after the onset of COVID‐19. Methods N = 496 HSP graduate students reported onset or worsening of mental health outcomes, inability to access mental health care, worry about COVID‐19, and stress at two different timepoints during the first year of the COVID‐19 outbreak (timepoint 1: May 1 to June 25, 2020; timepoint 2: September 2 to October 17, 2020). This study tested whether mental health outcomes improved, worsened, or stayed stable during this timeframe. The study also examined whether rising COVID‐19 case rates in the state where a participant lived moderated changes in mental health outcomes. Results Overall, HSP graduate students endorsed adverse mental health outcomes at a higher rate during the first survey relative to the second survey. Even still, 62.68% of students reported worsened mental health symptoms, 49.84% reported worsened sleep, and 23.92% reported increased alcohol and substance use in the 2 months leading up to the second survey. Conclusion HSP programs should monitor graduate students' evolving mental health, provide wellness resources, and adopt flexible approaches to support graduate students navigating training during periods of immense disruption.

Dental trainees’ mental health changes, sources of stress, coping strategies, and suggestions for mental health improvement 1 year into the pandemic

“…14 A longitudinal study of health service psychology doctoral graduate students from US institutions documented the reporting of increased sleep problems, alcohol and substance use, and mental health problems (e.g., mood, anxiety, and stress) among trainees following the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (May-June 2020). 15 Although fewer respondents endorsed these mental health outcomes in a three-month follow-up survey, a majority still reported worsened mood, anxiety, and/or stress, and almost half continued to report worsened sleep.…”

“…Similarly, a cross‐sectional study of medical students from 16 schools in New York and Washington found that symptoms of depression and anxiety were common following the onset of the pandemic and that trainees rated their mental health as worse than the pre‐pandemic baseline 14 . A longitudinal study of health service psychology doctoral graduate students from US institutions documented the reporting of increased sleep problems, alcohol and substance use, and mental health problems (e.g., mood, anxiety, and stress) among trainees following the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic (May–June 2020) 15 . Although fewer respondents endorsed these mental health outcomes in a three‐month follow‐up survey, a majority still reported worsened mood, anxiety, and/or stress, and almost half continued to report worsened sleep.…”

A Cross-Sectional Survey of Different Types of School Bullying before and during COVID-19 in Shantou City, China

“…Several scholars have recognized that the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly challenging for students at vulnerable stages of educational progress [1], with major consequences affecting students' academic, extracurricular activities and other activities [2]. If students are not able to adapt well to the current learning and living environment, this could result in various physical and mental health problems, such as sleep disturbances, alcohol and substance misuse, and suicidal ideations or non-suicidal self-harm [3][4][5][6][7]. All of these effects may be cause by school bullying, and we focused on this aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Gender differences in alcohol abuse/dependence among medical undergraduates during the post-COVID‑19 pandemic period (October 20, 2020-April 5, 2021) in China

“…However, no current research has explored whether mental distresses have different effects on alcohol abuse/dependence between different genders. Lastly, previous studies of alcohol abuse/dependence among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic involved only a small number of participants [ 44 – 46 ], and little is known about this problem among Chinese medical students after the outbreak of COVID-19. Therefore, gender differences in the prevalence and correlations of alcohol-related disorders among medical students during the post-COVID‑19 pandemic period are worthy of further investigation.…”