Post-secondary Student Mental Health During COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed notable challenges to post-secondary students, causing concern for their psychological well-being. In the face of school closures, academic disruptions, and constraints on social gatherings, it is crucial to understand the extent to which mental health among post-secondary students has been impacted in order to inform support implementation for this population. The present meta-analysis examines the global prevalence of clinically significant depression and anxiety among post-secondary students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several moderator analyses were also performed to examine sources of variability in depression and anxiety prevalence rates. A systematic search was conducted across six databases on May 3, 2021, yielding a total of 176 studies (1,732,456 participants) which met inclusion criteria. Random-effects meta-analyses of 126 studies assessing depression symptoms and 144 studies assessing anxiety symptoms were conducted. The pooled prevalence estimates of clinically elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms for post-secondary students during the COVID-19 pandemic was 30.6% (95% CI: 0.274, 0.340) and 28.2% (CI: 0.246, 0.321), respectively. The month of data collection and geographical region were determined to be significant moderators. However, student age, sex, type (i.e., healthcare student vs. non-healthcare student), and level of training (i.e., undergraduate, university or college generally; graduate, medical, post-doctorate, fellow, trainee), were not sources of variability in pooled rates of depression and anxiety symptoms during the pandemic. The current study indicates a call for continued access to mental health services to ensure post-secondary students receive adequate support during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO website: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42021253547.

Labor market participation and depression during the COVID-19 epidemic among young adults (18 to 30 years): a nationally representative study in France

“…Our results are in line with other studies which found elevated levels of depression and anxiety among university students (3)(4)(5)21). First of all, students are vulnerable because of high levels of financial difficulties as well social isolation, which increased during the course of the epidemic (21,22).…”

“…In the general population, factors associated with a deterioration in mental health include female sex, age under 35 years, loneliness and low income (2). In addition, several studies have found that university students experienced especially large increases in the prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders, with approximately a third suffering from either condition (3)(4)(5). However, most of these studies were conducted in China (3)(4)(5) where the spread of COVID-19 was limited after 2019 and accompanied by strict preventive measures, or in the United States (3) where to the contrary, the toll of the COVID-19 epidemic has been high and distance teaching was implemented for extended periods of time.…”

“…In addition, several studies have found that university students experienced especially large increases in the prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders, with approximately a third suffering from either condition (3)(4)(5). However, most of these studies were conducted in China (3)(4)(5) where the spread of COVID-19 was limited after 2019 and accompanied by strict preventive measures, or in the United States (3) where to the contrary, the toll of the COVID-19 epidemic has been high and distance teaching was implemented for extended periods of time. Data from additional countries can help better understand the extent to which students are a high-risk group in terms of mental health during in the context of the current sanitary crisis.…”

Social and Economic Factors Associated With Subthreshold and Major Depressive Episode in University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Also, differences in prevalence have been found in connection with geographical area, financial situation, and living arrangements ( 24 ). Inconsistent results have been found regarding the sex/gender variable ( 27 ). In addition, the month of data collection and geographical region were determined to be significant moderators of the prevalence ( 27 ).…”

“…Inconsistent results have been found regarding the sex/gender variable ( 27 ). In addition, the month of data collection and geographical region were determined to be significant moderators of the prevalence ( 27 ). Perceived social support, one of the most frequently studied variables, exhibits an inverse association with depression among students (e.g., ( 29 )).…”