Mental Health Impacts for International Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in China

Abstract

The outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has led to the quarantine of many residents in their homes worldwide. Some of these people might develop mental health problems, and many solutions have been put in place to address the mental health issues of patients and health professionals affected by the disease. However, not much attention has been given to international students studying in China. The present study aims to conduct an online survey to investigate the mental health status of international students from Changsha city, China.Materials and Methods: A WeChat-based survey program comprised of questions on demographic information gender, grade year, duration and status of quarantine, duration of sleep, worries about graduation, being able to go to school and presence or absence of a sense of security; as well as questions from the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI).Results: The prevalence of depression was 59.4% and the prevalence of anxiety was 37.8%. The STAI-Y1 STATE scores had a mean value (mean) of 41.42, standard deviation (S.D) of 10.89 and STAI-Y2 TRAIT scores had a mean value (mean) of 41.85, standard deviation (S.D) of 11.13. The risk factors of anxiety or depression were Sleep duration, worrying about graduation in varying degrees, School time, and feeling secure in varying degrees. Higher the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score and higher Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 score and higher STAI-Y1 STATE scores were associated with higher STAI-Y2 TRAIT scores.Conclusion: The present study implies that the university needs to consider planning for acute and long-term psychological help services for international students.

Psychological Outcomes and Associated Factors Among the International Students Living in China During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The cutoff points for a case finding are 10 for depression, 8 for anxiety, and 15 for stress. The depression subscale consists of items 3, 5, 10, 13, 16, 17, and 21 with scores ranging from normal (0-9), mild (10)(11)(12)(13), moderate (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), severe (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27), to extremely severe (28+). The anxiety subscale consists of items 2, 4, 7, 9, 15, 19, and 20, with scores ranging from normal (0-7), mild (8)(9), moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14), severe (15)(16)(17)(18)(19), to extremely severe (20+).…”

“…The anxiety subscale consists of items 2, 4, 7, 9, 15, 19, and 20, with scores ranging from normal (0-7), mild (8)(9), moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14), severe (15)(16)(17)(18)(19), to extremely severe (20+). Finally, the stress subscale consists of items 1, 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, and 18, with scores ranging from normal (0-14), mild (15)(16)(17)(18), moderate (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25), severe (26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33), to extremely severe (34+). The DASS-21 is a reliable, easy-to-use screening instrument and has been wellreceived globally.…”

“…The total score of the seven-item ISI ranges from 0 to 28. The total score was categorized into four different groups: no clinically significant insomnia (0-7), subthreshold insomnia (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14), moderate insomnia (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21), and severe insomnia (22-28) (23). In this study, the English version of the ISI scale score of 8 or higher indicates probable insomnia symptoms (22,24).…”

“…At present, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the magnitude of psychological outcomes and associated factors by using standardized rating scales among the international students living in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. Not only during the COVID-19 outbreak but also during previous bio-disasters that there had been less information about the mental health status among international students around the world (18)(19)(20). Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the psychological outcomes among international students who remained in China during the COVID-19 epidemic period by quantifying the magnitude of depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, psychological distress, loneliness, and fear by analyzing potential risk factors associated with these symptoms.…”

The Psychological Wellbeing of University Students Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Reviewed research indicated significant incidence rates of psychological distresses amongst international students during the pandemic in association with different risk factors like gender, exposure to pandemic-related information, double-bind situation, sleep quality, and graduation uncertainty. [91][92][93] Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, university students' level of depression and anxiety was a prevailing research area with significant attention exhibited by interested researchers to assess the associations between specific covariates and these two psychological disorders.…”