Improving University Students' Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From an Online Counseling Intervention in Italy

Abstract

BackgroundThe mental health of university students is significantly affected when faced with public health emergencies and requires specific interventions to help support and prevent any long-lasting effects that the pandemic may have on their mental health status. This study aims to evaluate the impact of an online individual counseling intervention provided by the University of Foggia and carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health status of a sample of university students.Methods32 Italian undergraduate students took part in a one-group pretest-posttest research design. The data was gathered in two times: before the start of the counseling intervention (T1), positive and negative affect, satisfaction with life, global mental distress, anxiety, stress, and future time perspective were collected, at the end of the counseling intervention (T2), the same dimensions were measured. A one-way repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed, and single Bonferroni-corrected dependent t-tests were conducted on variables showing a significant change over time.ResultsThe results showed that positive affect, subjective well-being, and future time perspective increased significantly after the intervention. In contrast, the participants reported significantly lower levels of negative affect, global mental distress, state and trait anxiety, as well as perceived stress over time.ConclusionsThe study demonstrates the promising impact of online counseling intervention and its efficient contribution in promoting the well-being of university students. The results contribute to the ongoing debate concerning the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young adults, helping professionals develop more efficient clinical and psychological interventions.

Psychological Counseling among University Students Worldwide: A Systematic Review

“…All of the RCTs investigated the effectiveness of online psychological interventions declined in several ways: mostly programs based on online modules (e.g., [ 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 ]), websites interaction (e.g., [ 99 ]), use of mobile apps (e.g., [ 100 ]), and face-to-face meetings followed by online exercises and interaction (e.g., [ 101 ]). Only one quasi-experimental study without a control group tested the effectiveness of online counseling delivered by a physical counselor due to pandemic needs [ 22 ]. Except for the latter studies [ 22 , 101 ], all of the other programs did not require intervention delivery by a physical counselor and usually had a weekly schedule.…”

“…Only one quasi-experimental study without a control group tested the effectiveness of online counseling delivered by a physical counselor due to pandemic needs [ 22 ]. Except for the latter studies [ 22 , 101 ], all of the other programs did not require intervention delivery by a physical counselor and usually had a weekly schedule. Some of them were ACT-oriented (e.g., [ 97 , 98 , 101 ]) and CBT-based (e.g., [ 96 , 102 ]), offering a wide range of evidence-based techniques and options for the promotion of well-being and the transdiagnostic prevention of common mental disorders and psychological distress among university students (e.g., [ 94 , 95 , 96 ]).…”

“…Moreover, the global COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the mental health of university students [ 19 ], with more than 50% experiencing clinically significant levels of psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression [ 20 ]. As a result, there is an urgent need for increased investments in and reinforcements of timely mental health care [ 21 ], which many UCSs are carrying out in different countries [ 22 ]. It is crucial for UCSs to continuously evaluate students’ mental health and well-being, identify and remove any barriers to treatment (e.g., economic or cultural obstacles, prejudices, and stereotypes), and provide tailored psychological interventions to target their specific needs.…”

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Well-Being, Social Relationships and Academic Performance in a Sample of University Freshmen: A Propensity Score Match Evaluation Pre- and Post-Pandemic

“…The provision of online counseling services, mental health resources, and peer support networks could have promoted the exploration and utilization of healthier coping mechanisms, leading to a decrease in selfblame. Furthermore, the emphasis on resilience-building and psychological well-being in educational institutions during the pandemic may have influenced university freshmen to adopt coping strategies that promote self-compassion and self-care [55,56]. The recognition of the importance of self-acceptance and seeking external support may have contributed to the reduction in the use of self-blame as a coping mechanism.…”

Correlates of anxiety and depressive symptoms in inpatients with COVID-19 in Taiwan

“…Beyond anxiety and depressive symptoms, one meta-analysis revealed that COVID-19 patients had high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, somatization and fear [ 13 ]. However, compared with studies on the mental health of the general population, COVID-19 survivors, or healthcare personnel during COVID-19 pandemic, relatively few studies have investigated the mental health of inpatients with COVID-19 during their stay [ [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] ]. Moreover, the existing results with COVID-19 inpatients varied widely, with the reported prevalence of anxiety and depression ranging from 19 % to 60 % and from 13 % to 80 %, respectively [ [15] , [16] , [17] , 21 , 22 ].…”