Exploring the relationship between mental health-related problems and undergraduate student dropout: A case study within a civil engineering program

Savio, Alexandre Almeida Del; Velarde, Katerina Galantini; Pachas, A.

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09504

Cited by 12 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Furthermore, the heightened risk of food insecurity and mental distress because of challenges including mass job loss and isolation due to the pandemic, may have also had a potential impact on dropout. These findings are aligned with work from South America which found that 38% of students reported economic distress (related to food insecurity risk) as a key motive to dropout early in the pandemic, while dropout motives related to mental distress increased over time reaching 40% in 2021 (1). There is also evidence linking poor family resources as well as an inability to cope with low resilience, and ultimately heighted risk for dropout, further corroborating the findings from the current study (51).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…University student dropout and retention rates are commonly used in higher education to describe the enrolment status of students following admission into an academic programme ( 1 ). Student dropout, or attrition, captures the decline in the number of students initially enrolled in an academic programme, while retention represents the count of students who continue to re-enroll in the program in subsequent years until completion ( 1 , 2 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A study from Europe reported a significant increase in dropout rates, especially among students with children and disabilities ( 9 ). A study from South America reported higher levels of dropout, citing economic and mental challenges related to the pandemic as key factors ( 1 ). In South Africa, preliminary analysis conducted using national data from the South African Department of Higher Education (DHET) early in the pandemic indicated increased dropout rates when compared to the previous years, with a significantly larger increase of dropout among those not receiving financial aid (2.8%) ( 10 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mental distress, food insecurity and university student dropout during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: evidence from South Africa

Wagner,

Makuapane

et al. 2024

Front. Psychiatry

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BackgroundStudent dropout has been a key issue facing universities for many years. The COVID-19 pandemic was expected to exacerbate these trends; however, international literature has produced conflicting findings. Limited literature from Africa has investigated the impact of COVID-19 on student dropout trends, despite the documented devastation, including increased risk of food insecurity and mental distress, caused by the pandemic.ObjectiveThis work seeks to understand the impact of food insecurity and mental distress on student dropout during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional research design, first-year undergraduate students from a large South African university were recruited via email to participate in a survey between September and October 2020. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to measure food insecurity and the Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS) was used to measure mental distress. Multivariate regression was used to investigate factors associated with student dropout.ResultsThe student dropout rate was 10.5% (95% CI: 8.2-13.2). The prevalence of severe food insecurity was 25.7% (95% CI: 22.3-29.4) and the prevalence of severe mental distress symptoms was 26.7% (95% CI: 23.3-30.4). Dropout rates and levels of food insecurity were highest among students residing in remote areas during the lockdown at 19.2% and 43.6%, respectively. The multivariate logistic regression revealed that being male increased the probability of dropout almost three-fold (odds ratio (OR) = 2.70; 95% CI: 1.48-4.89, p =0.001)). Being moderately food insecure increased the odds of dropout more than two-fold (OR=2.50; 95% CI:1.12-5.55, p=0.025), and experiencing severe mental distress symptoms increased the odds of dropout seven-fold (OR=7.08; 95% CI:2.67-18.81, p<0.001).ConclusionWhile acknowledging that various factors and complexities contribute to student dropout, the increased vulnerability to food insecurity and mental distress, stemming from issues such as widespread job losses and isolation experienced during the pandemic, may have also had an impact on dropout. This work reiterates the importance of directing additional support to students who are food insecure and those who are experiencing mental distress in order to mitigate university student dropout.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mental distress, food insecurity and university student dropout during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: evidence from South Africa

Wagner,

Makuapane

et al. 2024

Front. Psychiatry

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“…Qualitative research showed that study worries can lead to anxiety and doubts about completing a programme, to changes in the subject, or to dropping out [ 41 ]. In fact, research suggests that mental health problems during the pandemic led to higher drop-out rates than prior to the pandemic [ 42 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study Conditions and University Students’ Mental Health during the Pandemic: Results of the COVID-19 German Student Well-Being Study (C19 GSWS)

Heumann

Trümmler

Stock

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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University students are generally vulnerable to mental health problems. This was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when students experienced decisive changes and restrictions in their academic lives. Our study aimed at (a) analysing associations between study conditions and symptoms of depression and anxiety and (b) determining the extent of use and motivation to use student counselling services. The C19 GSWS is a cross-sectional study conducted at five universities in Germany (N = 7203). Descriptive analyses and linear regression models were performed to estimate the associations between study conditions and mental health outcomes. A total of 42.4% of the students felt down, depressed, or hopeless on several days over the past 14 days. Between a third and 44.1% of the students felt burdened by their study conditions. Worse perceived study conditions were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms and anxiety. Only 7.1% indicated that they had utilised student counselling services, and female gender, enrolment in a bachelor’s programme, and having more than 1 reason for utilisation were factors associated with use. The results of our research underline the need for universities to review their study conditions and to provide targeted intervention strategies and counselling services to promote students’ mental well-being.

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“…Specifically, the alterations in study behaviors (e.g., studying in isolation vs. in a social gathering) and delivery of course content (e.g., shift from in-person instruction to online formats) due to lockdown measures increased likelihood of poor academic performance and thus mental health decline (or vice versa) ( 24 ). Moreover, students who reported lower academic concerns and levels of anxiety and depression were less likely to dropout during the COVID-19 pandemic ( 25 , 26 ). We were unable to measure the impact of academic performance on reported outcomes, and is thus one limitation to the study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Practicing COVID-19 Public Health Measures Is Associated With Anxiety and Depression in Undergraduate University Students

Holladay

Lardier

Amorim

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundCOVID-19 has affected mental health globally, increasing depression and anxiety. This study examined relationships between practicing COVID-19-related public health measures and depression and anxiety in young adult students.MethodsA sample of 755 undergraduate students 18–25 years of age at a large public university completed a cross-sectional survey in fall 2020 during the pandemic (response rate = 18.9%). The survey included demographic questions, anxiety and depression screeners (GAD-7 and PHQ-9), and questions on practicing public health measures (stay-at-home orders, quarantining, social distancing, etc.) since March 2020. Multivariate logistic regression was utilized to calculated adjusted odds between practicing public health measures and anxiety and depression.ResultsThe majority of respondents reported practicing public health measures; however, 53% experienced anxiety (GAD-7 score >10) and 57% experienced depression (PHQ-9 score >10) in the 2 weeks prior to completing the survey. Participants who quarantined had significantly higher odds of anxiety (AOR = 1.44; 95% CL 1.07, 1.96) and depression (AOR = 1.77; 95% CL 1.30, 2.41) than those who did not. Participants who self-isolated also had significantly higher odds of anxiety (AOR = 1.53; 95% CL 1.13, 2.08) and depression (AOR = 1.87; 95% CL 1.37, 2.56) compared to those who did not. Moving/changing living situations in response to the pandemic also increased odds of depression (AOR = 1.86; 95% CL 1.33, 2.60).ConclusionYoung adult undergraduate students experienced a high prevalence of anxiety and depression. Quarantining, self-isolating, and moving/changing living situations increased odds of anxiety and/or depression. The public health measures necessary for COVID-19 control and prevention may adversely affect mental health.

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Exploring the relationship between mental health-related problems and undergraduate student dropout: A case study within a civil engineering program

Cited by 12 publications

References 64 publications

Mental distress, food insecurity and university student dropout during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: evidence from South Africa

Mental distress, food insecurity and university student dropout during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: evidence from South Africa

Study Conditions and University Students’ Mental Health during the Pandemic: Results of the COVID-19 German Student Well-Being Study (C19 GSWS)

Practicing COVID-19 Public Health Measures Is Associated With Anxiety and Depression in Undergraduate University Students

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