Hopelessness during and after the COVID‐19 pandemic lockdown among Chinese college students: A longitudinal network analysis

Abstract

Introduction In China, recurrent pandemics require frequent city‐wide lockdowns and quarantine actions to contain the impact of COVID‐19, exposing college students to psychological problems, including hopelessness. Hence, the purpose of helping problematic college students alleviate hopelessness symptoms motivates us to carry out the present study to explore their interrelationship. Methods Hopelessness (i.e., a complex phenomenon with important clinical consequences, such as depression and suicidality) was investigated in a large longitudinal sample of college students ( N = 2787; 58.59% female; age mean ± SD = 18.34 ± 0.92) who were recruited during and after the COVID‐19 lockdown using the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). Results Applying the novel approach (i.e., symptom network analysis), the results indicated that the edge of #BHS1 (i.e., [NOT] hope‐enthusiasm)–#BHS15 (i.e., [NOT] faith‐in‐the‐future) showed the strongest association both in Wave 1 and Wave 2. Similarly, #BHS20 (i.e., not‐trying) had the highest node expectedinfluence (centrality) in the hopelessness symptoms network both among Wave 1 and Wave 2. The Network Comparison Test indicated that the global network strength significantly differed between the two time points. As expected, college students' hopelessness will gradually dissipate with the end of segregation control. The stability and accuracy indicated that the network analysis results were trustworthy. Conclusions The study findings provide evidence that central nodes and edges connecting symptoms should be addressed. Further interventions and treatments that may target these symptoms are essential to effectively alleviate the overall hopelessness level among college students. Theoretical and clinical potential consequences were discussed in detail.

Cross-lagged relationship between anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance among college students during and after collective isolation

“…Our results provide information from another facet after quarantine, the relationship between anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance becomes sparser. In the domain of hopelessness, a factor related to anxiety and depression, Tao et al ( 47 ) drew the same trend in college students, which implied that after quarantine, hopelessness was reduced. Combining previous studies' results, we estimate that less time spent on mobile phones and more physical activities can reduce anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance and further dilute the bidirectional relationship ( 42 , 48 ).…”

Comparing the centrality symptoms of major depressive disorder samples across junior high school students, senior high school students, college students and elderly adults during city lockdown of COVID-19 pandemic—A network analysis

“…One point to emphasize is that sad mood is the hallmark symptom needed to meet a diagnosis of major depression ( Fried et al, 2016 ). Fortunately, Tao et al (2022) have revealed through network analysis that the level of hopelessness among college students is significantly reduced once the lockdown ending. Therefore, to intervene in depression development, parents or communities need to understand the situation of students in the lockdown period and address their distorted perceptions.…”

Effects of personal relative deprivation on the relationship between anger rumination and aggression during and after the COVID‐19 pandemic lockdown: A longitudinal moderated network approach

“…These negative psychological impacts are relieved quickly after the lifting of the lockdown (Meda et al, 2021). For instance, Tao et al (2022b) found that college students experienced decreased feelings of hopelessness after lockdown. Accordingly, we propose that after the lockdown, personal relative deprivation, anger rumination, and aggression caused by isolation can be resolved with the condition that an individual's basic psychological needs are satisfied (Smith et al, 2020).…”

“…During the COVID‐19 period, the restricted activity space increased the homogeneity of communication objects, destroyed former social networks, lowered the quality of interpersonal relationships (Goodwin et al, 2020), and increased hopelessness (Tao et al, 2022b) and anger (Voltmer et al, 2021). Moreover, Mastorci et al (2021) found that isolation resulted in adolescents perceiving a deprivation of well‐being and increased the individual perception of deprivation (Beale et al, 2022).…”