Student mental health during the first two years of the COVID- 19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic have had deleterious effects on mental health of students. Authors suggest that the psychological effects will persist long after COVID-19 has peaked, but we have no data to confirm this. Objectives Objective: The objective of this study is to compare clinical issues (concerns, anxiety and depression symptoms) and adjustment (coping strategies) in French university students during different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 (during two periods of lockdown and two periods after lockdown) Methods Method: Data were collected anonymously at four timepoints: during France’s first national lockdown (23 April- 8 May 2020; nT1 = 1294); during the period after lockdown (9‑23 June 2020; nT2 = 321); 1 year after the first lockdown, which was also a lockdown period (23 April- 8 May 2021; nT3 = 2357); and 1 year after the first unlockdown, which was also a unlockdown period (9‑23 June 2021, nT4 = 1174). The following variables were measured: concerns, coping strategies, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Results In 2021, students have significantly higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms than in 2020, and this is even more pronounced during the lockdown periods. For example, 44.1% had probable anxiety symptoms in the 2021 lockdown, compared to 33% in the 2020 lockdown. In the unlockdown periods, the rates are 21.7% in 2020 and 26.4% in 2021. Conclusions Our results suggest that university students, known to be a vulnerable population with significant mental health deterioration, have become even more vulnerable with the COVID-19 pandemic. Disclosure No significant relationships.