scholarly journals How do you feel during the COVID-19 pandemic? A survey using psychological and linguistic self-report measures, and machine learning to investigate mental health, subjective experience, personality, and behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic among university students

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelia Herbert ◽  
Alia El Bolock ◽  
Slim Abdennadher
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
University Students ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Student Sample ◽  
Psychological Questionnaires

Abstract Background The WHO has raised concerns about the psychological consequences of the current COVID-19 pandemic, negatively affecting health across societies, cultures and age-groups. Methods This online survey study investigated mental health, subjective experience, and behaviour (health, learning/teaching) among university students studying in Egypt or Germany shortly after the first pandemic lockdown in May 2020. Psychological assessment included stable personality traits, self-concept and state-like psychological variables related to (a) mental health (depression, anxiety), (b) pandemic threat perception (feelings during the pandemic, perceived difficulties in describing, identifying, expressing emotions), (c) health (e.g., worries about health, bodily symptoms) and behaviour including perceived difficulties in learning. Assessment methods comprised self-report questions, standardized psychological scales, psychological questionnaires, and linguistic self-report measures. Data analysis comprised descriptive analysis of mental health, linguistic analysis of self-concept, personality and feelings, as well as correlational analysis and machine learning. N = 220 (107 women, 112 men, 1 = other) studying in Egypt or Germany provided answers to all psychological questionnaires and survey items. Results Mean state and trait anxiety scores were significantly above the cut off scores that distinguish between high versus low anxious subjects. Depressive symptoms were reported by 51.82% of the student sample, the mean score was significantly above the screening cut off score for risk of depression. Worries about health (mental and physical health) and perceived difficulties in identifying feelings, and difficulties in learning behaviour relative to before the pandemic were also significant. No negative self-concept was found in the linguistic descriptions of the participants, whereas linguistic descriptions of feelings during the pandemic revealed a negativity bias in emotion perception. Machine learning (exploratory) predicted personality from the self-report data suggesting relations between personality and subjective experience that were not captured by descriptive or correlative data analytics alone. Conclusion Despite small sample sizes, this multimethod survey provides important insight into mental health of university students studying in Egypt or Germany and how they perceived the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in May 2020. The results should be continued with larger samples to help develop psychological interventions that support university students across countries and cultures to stay psychologically resilient during the pandemic.

Study Skills, Self-Concept, and Academic Achievement

1984 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 923-929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernadette M. Gadzella ◽  
James David Williamson
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
University Students ◽  
Grade Point Average ◽  
Study Skills ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Two Measures

This study investigated the relationships between study skills, self-concept, and academic achievement and whether the self-report measures contributed to the prediction of grade-point average for 110 university students. Analysis showed that study skills, self-concepts, and academic achievement correlated significantly with each other; rs ranged from .03 to .52. In addition to the total study skills score, two measures of study skills (oral reporting and interpersonal relations) and one measure of self-concept (personal self) contributed to the prediction of grade-point average.

scholarly journals Promoting the Mental Health of University Students in China: Protocol for Contextual Assessment to Inform Intervention Design and Adaptation (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josephine Pui-Hing Wong ◽  
Cun-Xian Jia ◽  
Mandana Vahabi ◽  
Jenny Jing Wen Liu ◽  
Alan Tai-Wai Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
University Students ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Mental Illness Stigma ◽  
Contextual Assessment ◽  
Mental Health Knowledge

BACKGROUND Chinese students are extremely vulnerable to developing mental illness. The stigma associated with mental illness presents a barrier to seeking help for their mental health. OBJECTIVE The <i>Linking Hearts—Linking Youth and ‘Xin’ (hearts)</i> project is an implementation science project that seeks to reduce mental illness stigma and promote the mental health of university students in Jinan, China. The Linking Hearts project consists of 3 components. In this paper, we outline the protocol for the first component, that is, the contextual assessment and analysis of the mental health needs of university students as the first step to inform the adaptation of an evidence-based intervention to be implemented in Jinan, China. METHODS Six local universities will participate in the Linking Hearts project. A total of 100 students from each university (n=600) will engage in the contextual assessment through self-report surveys on depression, anxiety, stress, mental health knowledge, and mental health stigma. Quantitative data will be analyzed using several descriptive and inferential analyses via SPSS. A small number of participants (144 students and 144 service providers) will also be engaged in focus groups to assess the socio-environmental contexts of university students’ health and availability of mental health resources. Qualitative data will be transcribed verbatim and NVivo will be used for data management. Social network analysis will also be performed using EgoNet. RESULTS Linking Hearts was funded in January 2018 for 5 years. The protocol of Linking Hearts and its 3 components was approved by the research ethics boards of all participating institutions in China in November 2018. Canadian institutions that gave approval were Ryerson University (REB2018-455) in January 2019, University of Alberta (Pro00089364), York University (e2019-162) in May 2019, and University of Toronto (RIS37724) in August 2019. Data collection took place upon ethics approval and was completed in January 2020. A total of 600 students were surveyed. An additional 147 students and 138 service providers took part in focus groups. Data analysis is ongoing. Results will be published in 2021. CONCLUSIONS Findings from this contextual assessment and analysis will generate new knowledge on university students’ mental health status, mental health knowledge, and resources available for them. These findings will be used to adapt and refine the <i>Acceptance and Commitment to Empowerment-Linking Youth N’ Xin</i> intervention model. The results of this contextual assessment will be used to inform the adaptation and refinement of the mental health intervention to promote the mental health of Chinese university students in Jinan. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR1-10.2196/25009

scholarly journals The Mediating Role of Rumination in the Relationship between Loneliness and Depression in University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 447-457
Author(s):  
Ines Luttenbacher ◽  
Jamie S. Breukel ◽  
Maheen M. Adamson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
The Relationship

Introduction: While mitigation procedures are needed to prevent the continuous spread of COVID-19, they may, in turn, negatively impact individuals’ mental health. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the relationships between loneliness, rumination, and depression, as well as the mediating role of rumination in the relationship between loneliness and depression in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was circulated, collecting a final sample of 288 university students (Mage = 22.01, SD = 3.45, range = 18–55, 75.7% female). Study variables were measured utilizing self-report questionnaires. Results: In line with the hypotheses, rumination partially mediated the relationship between loneliness and depression. Discussion: Therefore, ruminative thoughts may be one of the key factors contributing to lonely university students’ susceptibility to depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Experiences and Expectations in Evaluating Preparation for an Examination

2000 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 895-898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Schweizer
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Oral Examination ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Personal Optimism ◽  
Past Experiences

The predictability of the evaluation of preparing for an oral examination by means of self-concept and self-esteem as well as optimism and self-efficacy was investigated in a sample of 49 university students. Self-concept was measured by Frankfurter Selbstkonzeptskalen, self-esteem by the 16PF-O scale, personal optimism, social optimism, and self-efficacy by Fragebogen für Personalen Optimismus und Sozialen Optimismus—Erweitert, and the evaluation of the preparation by a self-report sheet. Data were collected 5 wk. before the examination. The self-report sheet was given again one week before the examination. Significant correlations of self-report scores with self-concept scores as well as 16PF-O scores representing past experiences were found for the first assessment. The correlations with personal optimism scores and self-efficacy scores representing expectations were also significant for the second assessment.

Intentional music use to reduce psychological distress in adolescents accessing primary mental health care

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 567-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrina Skewes McFerran ◽  
Cherry Hense ◽  
Asami Koike ◽  
Debra Rickwood
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Music Preferences ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Insight Into

Rationale: Many young people turn to music as a way of exploring and managing their moods and emotions. The literature is replete with studies that correlate music preferences and mental health, as well as a small but increasing interest in uses of music to promote well-being. Recent studies have shown that music use is often unconscious, thus difficult to influence without therapeutic conversations. No study has yet tested whether it is feasible to increase awareness of music use in young people who tend to ruminate with music, and test whether increased awareness can reduce distress. Design: This feasibility study aimed to determine whether involvement in a brief music-based intervention was engaging and acceptable to a small sample of young people, and whether their levels of distress decreased and insight into music uses increased. A mixed methods approach was adopted, merging scores of distress and self-reported experience of the intervention to foster interpretation. Results: Convergent analysis of the different data forms suggests that at least some of the measurable decreases in distress captured for all of the participants were related to participation in the sessions, according to the self-report of a number of the young people in interviews. This is demonstrated through descriptive data compiled under two key themes (Agency and Changed Uses) and illustrated through three case examples that were drawn largely from the words of the young people. Conclusion: This feasibility study suggests that young people’s relationship with music provides a powerful platform for leveraging engagement in services and improvements in distress, when well timed and carefully scaffolded.

scholarly journals Online group CBT for symptoms of anxiety and depression among university students: A pragmatic open trial (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Bantjes ◽  
Alan E. Kazdin ◽  
Pim Cuijpers ◽  
Elsie Breet ◽  
Munita Dunn-Coetzee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Open Trial ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Satisfaction With Treatment ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Online Group ◽  
Group Cbt

BACKGROUND Both anxiety and depression are common among university students, and university counselling centres are under pressure to develop effective, novel and sustainable interventions that engage and retain students. Group interventions delivered via the internet could be a novel and effective way to promote student mental health. OBJECTIVE We carried out a pragmatic open trial to investigate uptake, retention, treatment response, and level of satisfaction with a remote group CBT intervention designed to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression delivered online to university students during the COVID pandemic. METHODS Pre- and post-intervention self-report data on anxiety and depression were collected with the GAD-7 and PHQ-9. Satisfaction was assessed post-intervention with the Client Satisfaction with Treatment Questionnaire. RESULTS 175 students (86.1% female, mean age=22.4 years) were enrolled, 90.3% (n=158) of whom initiated treatment. Mean (SD) number of sessions attended was 6.4 (2.8) out of 10. Among participants with clinically significant symptoms at baseline, mean symptom scores decreased significantly for anxiety (t56=11.6, P<.001), depression (t61=7.8, P<.001), and composite anxiety/depression (t60=10.7, P<.001), with large effect sizes (d=1.0-1.5). Remission rates among participants with clinically significant baseline symptoms were 67.7-78.9% and were not associated with baseline symptom severity. High overall levels of satisfaction with treatment were reported. CONCLUSIONS These results serve as a proof of concept for the use of online group CBT to promote the mental health of university students. CLINICALTRIAL This was a pragmatic trial undertaken as part of a rapid response to COVID. As such we did not register this trial.

scholarly journals Online Mental Health Information Behaviours of Emerging Adults: A Web Usability and User Experience Study

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane Rasmussen Neal ◽  
Cameron Hoffman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Health Information ◽  
User Experience ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Santé Mentale ◽  
Web Usability ◽  
Mental Health Information ◽  
Sante Mentale

This research utilizes Web usability and user experience studies to determine how a small sample of university students ages 18-25 look for and access mental health information online, and how they would like to see the presentation of online mental health information improved.Cette recherche se base sur des études sur la convivialité Web et l’expérience de l’utilisateur pour déterminer comment un petit échantillon d’étudiants universitaires de 18 à 25 ans recherchent et utilisent de l’information sur la santé mentale en ligne, et comment ils aimeraient en améliorer la présentation. 

scholarly journals Prevalence and predicting factors of perceived stress among Bangladeshi university students using machine learning algorithms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rumana Rois ◽  
Manik Ray ◽  
Atikur Rahman ◽  
Swapan. K. Roy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Prognostic Factors ◽  
University Students ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Machine Learning Algorithms ◽  
Polynomial Kernel ◽  
Support Vector

Abstract Background: Stress-related mental health problems are one of the most common causes of the burden in university students worldwide. Many studies have been conducted to predict the prevalence of stress among university students, however most of these analyses were predominantly performed using the basic logistic regression model. As an alternative, we used the advanced machine learning approaches for detecting significant risk factors and to predict the prevalence of stress among Bangladeshi university students.Methods: This prevalence study surveyed 355 students from twenty-eight different Bangladeshi universities using questions concerning anthropometric measurements, academic, lifestyles, and health-related information, which referred to the perceived stress status of the respondents (yes or no). Boruta algorithm was used in determining the significant prognostic factors of the prevalence of stress. Prediction models were built using decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and logistic regression (LR), and their performances were evaluated using parameters of confusion matrix, ROC curves, and k-fold cross-validation techniques. Results: One-third of university students reported stress within the last 12 months. Students’ pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, sleep status, smoking status, and academic background were selected as the important features for predicting the prevalence of stress. Evaluated performance revealed that the highest performance observed from RF (accuracy=0.8972, precision=0.9241, sensitivity=0.9250, specificity=0.8148, AUC=0.8715, k-fold accuracy=0.8983) and the lowest from LR (accuracy=0.7476, precision=0.8354, sensitivity=0.8250, specificity=0.5185, AUC=0.7822, k-fold accuracy=07713) and SVM with polynomial kernel of degree 2 (accuracy=0.7570, precision=0.7975, sensitivity=0.8630, specificity=0.5294, AUC=0.7717, k-fold accuracy=0.7855). The RF model perfectly predicted stress including individual and interaction effects of predictors.Conclusion: The machine learning framework can be detected the significant prognostic factors and predicted this psychological problem more accurately, thereby helping the policy-makers, stakeholders, and families to understand and prevent this serious crisis by improving policy-making strategies, mental health promotion, and establishing effective university counseling services.

scholarly journals When altruists cannot help: The influence of altruism on the mental health of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Feng ◽  
Min Zong ◽  
Zhizun Yang ◽  
Wen Gu ◽  
Dan Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
University Students ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Valuable Insight

Abstract Background: The positive predictive effect of altruism on physical and psychological well-being has been extensively demonstrated in previous studies, but few studies have examined the effect of altruism on negative mental health outcomes when altruists cannot perform altruistic behaviours. This study explored the influence of altruism on negative affect and mental health (anxiety and depressive symptoms) during the COVID-19 pandemic while people self-isolated at home in China.Method: University students were recruited to participate in a cross-sectional online survey during the outbreak of COVID-19 in China. Self-reported perceived risk, altruism, negative affect, anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured using the Self-Report Altruism Scale (SRA scale), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale (PHQ-9). A structural equation model was used to analyse the mediating and moderating effects on mental health. Results: The final sample comprised 1346 Chinese participants (Mage = 19.76 ± 2.23 years, 73% female). Overall, the higher the risk the participants perceived, the more negative affect they exhibited (β = 0.16, p < .001), and thus, the more anxious and depressed they felt (β = 0.134, p < .001); however, this relationship between risk perception and negative affect was moderated by altruism. In contrast to previous studies, the increase in negative affect associated with the increased perceived risk was pronounced among individuals with high altruism (t = 7.68, p < .001). Conclusions: Individuals with high altruism exhibited more negative affect than those with low altruism, which indirectly increased their anxiety and depressive symptoms. These findings enrich theories of altruism and provide valuable insight into the influence of altruism on mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak.

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