Identifying Predictors of University Students’ Wellbeing during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Data-Driven Approach

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed risks to public mental health worldwide. University students, who are already recognised as a vulnerable population, are at elevated risk of mental health issues given COVID-19-related disruptions to higher education. To assist universities in effectively allocating resources to the launch of targeted, population-level interventions, the current study aimed to uncover predictors of university students’ psychological wellbeing during the pandemic via a data-driven approach. Methods: Data were collected from 3973 Australian university students ((median age = 22, aged from 18 to 79); 70.6% female)) at five time points during 2020. Feature selection was conducted via least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) to identify predictors from a comprehensive set of variables. Selected variables were then entered into an ordinary least squares (OLS) model to compare coefficients and assess statistical significance. Results: Six negative predictors of university students’ psychological wellbeing emerged: White/European ethnicity, restriction stress, perceived worry on mental health, dietary changes, perceived sufficiency of distancing communication, and social isolation. Physical health status, emotional support, and resilience were positively associated with students’ psychological wellbeing. Social isolation has the largest effect on students’ psychological wellbeing. Notably, age, gender, international status, and educational level did not emerge as predictors of wellbeing. Conclusion: To cost-effectively support student wellbeing through 2021 and beyond, universities should consider investing in internet- and tele- based interventions explicitly targeting perceived social isolation among students. Course-based online forums as well as internet- and tele-based logotherapy may be promising candidates for improving students’ psychological wellbeing.

Resilience and COVID-19. An Analysis in University Students during Confinement

“…For example, Olmos-Gómez [54] found frustration, malaise, and decreased resilience to be the main problems in students who either did not engage in physical activity or frequently watched pandemicrelated news [55]. Liu et al [56] reached similar conclusions regarding the importance of physical health, emotional support, and resilience as factors promoting psychological well-being among students. Similarly, Eva et al [49] found that students who were able to regulate their emotions during the confinement obtained greater personal satisfaction and better academic results.…”

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students’ Mental Health and Sleep in Saudi Arabia

“…Additionally, the risk of depression symptoms was three times higher between students who had confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases among relatives [14]. Australian university students reported 66.3% poorer well-being overall during the pandemic [15].…”

“…The PHQ-9 scores can range between 0 to 27 because each item of PHQ-9 can be scored from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). The PHQ-9 rates Minimal depression (0-4), Mild depression (5-9), Moderate depression (10-14), Moderately severe depression (15)(16)(17)(18)(19), and Severe depression (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27). It is designed to assess depression based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria (American Psychiatric Association, 2000).…”

“…The GAD-7 scale score ranges from 0 to 21. The level of Anxiety Severity GAD-7 Scale Score is minimal (0-4), Mild (5-9), Moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14), and Severe (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21). The GAD-7 has been used previously in a university student population in Saudi Arabia with Cronbach's alpha of 0.83 [33].…”

“…A higher value indicates more severe symptoms of insomnia. The total score of ISI scale was interpreted as normal (0-7), subthreshold (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14), moderate (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21), and severe insomnia (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28). The ISI has been used in an adult population previously in Saudi Arabia, however reliability of the measure was unavailable [39].…”