Mental Health Problems and Related Factors in Chinese University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Background: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a serious threat to global public health, including a wide range of metal health problems. Current research focuses mainly on mental health status and related factors among Chinese university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Data from 11133 participants was obtained through an online survey of university students in mainland China. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), respectively.Results: In total, 37.0% of the subjects were experiencing depressive symptoms, 24.9% anxiety symptoms, 20.9% comorbid depressive and anxiety symptoms, and 7.3% suicidal ideation. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed an increased presence of mental health problems in female students, graduate students, and those with personal COVID-19 exposure. Living with family and awareness of COVID-19 were protective factors against depressive and anxiety symptoms. In addition, male, depressive and anxiety symptoms were risk factors for suicidal ideation. Living with family, graduate students, prevention and control measures and projections of COVID-19 trends were protective factors against suicidal ideation.Conclusions: The findings underlined that the mental health of university students should be monitored, and provided important information for healthcare planning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Mental Health Problems and Related Factors in Chinese University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

10.21203/rs.3.rs-60938/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shuang-Jiang Zhou ◽

Meng Qi ◽

Lei-Lei Wang ◽

Xing-Jie Yang ◽

Lan Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Graduate Students ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

University Students ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

Related Factors ◽

Chinese University

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Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidal Ideation in Chinese University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.669833 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Shuang-Jiang Zhou ◽

Lei-Lei Wang ◽

Meng Qi ◽

Xing-Jie Yang ◽

Lan Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Graduate Students ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

University Students ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

Chinese University ◽

Chinese University Students

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has seriously threatened the global public health security and caused a series of mental health problem. Current research focuses mainly on mental health status and related factors in the COVID-19 pandemic among Chinese university students. Data from 11133 participants was obtained through an online survey. The Patient Health Question-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess depressive symptoms, the Social Support Rate Scale (SSRS) was used to assess social support. We also used 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) to assess anxiety symptoms. Totally, 37.0% of the subjects were experiencing depressive symptoms, 24.9% anxiety symptoms, 20.9% comorbid depressive and anxiety symptoms, and 7.3% suicidal ideation. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed an increased presence of mental health problems in female students, graduate students, and those with personal COVID-19 exposure. Awareness of COVID-19, living with family were protective factors that reduced anxiety and depression symptoms. In addition, male, personal COVID-19 exposure, depressive and anxiety symptoms were risk factors for suicidal ideation. Social support, COVID-19 preventive and control measures, prediction of COVID-19 trends, living with family and graduate students are protective factors for reducing suicidal ideation.

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The Impacts of Air Pollution on Mental Health: Evidence from the Chinese University Students

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17186734 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (18) ◽

pp. 6734

Author(s):

Daqing Zu ◽

Keyu Zhai ◽

Yue Qiu ◽

Pei Pei ◽

Xiaoxian Zhu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

University Students ◽

Large Scale ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Health Problems ◽

Chinese University ◽

The Impact

A growing number of developing countries have experienced worsening air pollution, which has been shown to cause significant health problems. However, few studies have explored the impact of air pollution on the mental health of university students, particularly in the Chinese context. In order to address this gap, through a large-scale cross-sectional survey, this study aims to examine the effects of air pollution on final-year Chinese university undergraduates’ (due to graduate in 2020) mental health by employing multivariable logistic regression. Our findings show that, first, although normal air quality is not strongly associated with lower levels of negative mental health, there is a strong link between poor air quality and higher levels of negative mental health. More specifically, life satisfaction hedonic unhappiness and depression measured by the Centre for Epidemiological Studies’ Depression scale (CES-D) are statistically associated with air pollution. In addition, we also found that gender is a significant factor, as males had more than 1.6 times greater odds of increased mental health problems compared to their female counterparts. Place of birth also plays a significant role in participants’ mental health. Moreover, undergraduates with urban household registration experienced significant levels of hedonic unhappiness and depression on the CES-D scale. Finally, we found that there is an association between respondents’ economic situation and their mental health too. Overall, this study contributes to the research on air pollution management and mental health intervention, particularly in relation to student groups. The undergraduate curriculum should provide more guidance and suggestions on promoting mental health and establishing positive attitudes to life and academic study of the final year students, under the context of air pollution in China.

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Risk and Protective Factors for Poorer Overall Health, Increased Psychological Distress, and Suicidal Ideation Due to SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in the General Japanese Population

10.21926/obm.icm.2101008 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kanto Araki ◽

Keita Kiuchi ◽

Katsumasa Kishi ◽

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Japanese Population ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

General Japanese Population ◽

The Future

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak is expected to have harmed the mental health of numerous people worldwide. Therefore, the present study was aimed to explore the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak on the overall health of the general Japanese population, with a particular focus on identifying the factors associated with a requirement for mental health treatment. Japanese residents aged 18 years and above were surveyed online, and among the 1,500 obtained responses included for analysis, 14% reported severe psychological distress, and 8.9% indicated high suicidal ideation. A multiple regression analysis of the collected data revealed that “insufficient exercise” could significantly predict physical health (β = -0.23, SE = 0.03), while the life event stressors that could significantly predict mental health were the personality trait “neuroticism” (β = -0.16, SE = 0.03), and the life stressors of “outbreak-related mental health problems” (β = -0.22, SE = 0.03) and “uncertainty regarding the future” (β = -0.12, SE = 0.03). The personality traits of “agreeableness” (β = -0.08, SE = 0.02) and “neuroticism” (β = 0.22, SE = 0.02), and the factors “social support” (β = -0.12, SE = 0.02), “outbreak-related mental health problems” (β = 0.21, SE = 0.02), “uncertainty regarding the future” (β = 0.14, SE = 0.02), and “declining duration and quality of sleep” (β = 0.10, SE = 0.02) could predict psychological distress. Suicidal ideation was predicted by “neuroticism” (β = 0.11, SE = 0.03), “social support” (β = -0.27, SE = 0.03), and “having a psychiatric disorder” (β = 0.18, SE = 0.03). The results of the present study suggest that due to the spread of SARS-CoV-2, much of the Japanese population could be in requirement of psychiatric care. In particular, the individuals who rated high for the risk factors and low for the protective factors might require proactive support.

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Risk and Protective Factors Related to Poorer Overall Health, Increased Psychological Distress and Suicidal Ideation in the General Japanese Population Due to SARS-CoV-2

10.31226/osf.io/xf2ez ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kanto Araki ◽

Keita Kiuchi ◽

Katsumasa Kishi

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Mental Health Treatment ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

The Future ◽

Japanese Residents

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks will likely threaten mental health globally. This study aimed to explore outbreaks’ effects on the general Japanese population’s overall health, focusing on identifying factors related to needing mental health treatment. Japanese residents aged 18 and older were surveyed online. Of the 1,500 responses included for analysis, 14% reported severe psychological distress and 8.9% rated high for suicidal ideation. A multiple regression analysis showed that “insufficient exercise” significantly predicted physical health (β = -0.23, SE = 0.03). The “neuroticism” personality trait (β = -0.16, SE = 0.03), the “outbreak-related mental health problems” (β = -0.22, SE = 0.03), and “uncertainty about the future” (β = -0.12, SE = 0.03) life event stressors significantly predicted mental health. The personality traits of “agreeableness” (β = -0.08, SE = 0.02), “neuroticism” (β = 0.22, SE = 0.02), “social support” (β = -0.12, SE = 0.02), “outbreak-related mental health problems” (β = 0.21, SE = 0.02), “uncertainty about the future” (β = 0.14, SE = 0.02) and “declining duration and quality of sleep” (β = 0.10, SE = 0.02) predicted psychological distress. “Neuroticism” (β = 0.11, SE = 0.03), “social support” (β = -0.27, SE = 0.03), and “having a psychiatric disorder” (β = 0.18, SE = 0.03) predicted suicidal ideation. Results suggested that due to the spread of SARS-CoV-2, much of the Japanese public could need psychiatric care. People rating high for these risk factors but low for the protective factors might specifically need proactive support.

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Examining the Psychosocial and Academic Factors Predicting Depression and Anxiety Symptomology Across First-Year and Later-Year University Students

European Scientific Journal ESJ ◽

10.19044/esj.2017.v13n17p1 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (17) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Natalie Eckberg ◽

Aileen M. Pidgeon ◽

Heidi Magyar

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

University Students ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

First Year ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

First Year University

University students across the world report higher levels of mental health problems compared to the general population. Past research has focused on investigating mental health problems among first-year university students. However, a paucity of existing research compares the prevalence of mental health problems in first-year university students to students in later year-levels. To address this gap, the current study compared the level of depression and anxiety symptomology experienced by university students (n = 198) from Australia and the United States, across first, second, third, and fourth-year levels. The results found no significant differences in the level of depression and anxiety symptomology between university students from these countries, and no significant differences in the level of depression symptoms across year-levels. However, university students in the secondyear level reported significantly higher levels of anxiety symptoms compared to first, third, and fourth-year levels. The current study assessed the role of stress appraisal, psychosocial, and coping factors as predictors of depression and anxiety symptoms across all year-levels of university students. Hierarchical multiple regressions indicated higher levels of perceived stress and lower levels of perceived social support from family significantly predicted higher levels of depression symptoms. Higher levels of perceived stress and academic avoidance coping, and lower levels of campus connectedness significantly predicted higher levels of anxiety symptoms. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Suicidal ideation, mental health problems, and social impairment are increased in adolescents with acne: a population-based study.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.8237959.8397054 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Gabriella Fabbrocini

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Population Based ◽

Health Problems ◽

Social Impairment ◽

Population Based Study

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From Stress to Psychopathology: Relationship with Self-Reassurance and Self-Criticism in Czech University Students

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction ◽

10.1007/s11469-021-00516-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yasuhiro Kotera ◽

Jaroslava Dosedlova ◽

Denise Andrzejewski ◽

Greta Kaluzeviciute ◽

Makoto Sakai

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

University Students ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Health Problems ◽

Transactional Model ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Path Analyses ◽

As Stress

AbstractPsychological stress has become a major concern, potentially leading to diverse health problems including psychopathology such as depression and anxiety. Transactional Model of Stress and Coping is an established model, conceptualizing stressful experiences via person–environment relationship. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the pathway from stress to depression/anxiety, with a focus on self-criticism (inadequate-self and hated-self) and self-reassurance (reassured-self) in Czech students who suffered from high prevalence of mental health problems. Convenience sample of 119 undergraduates completed the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 and the Forms of the Self-Criticizing/Attacking & Self-Reassuring Scale. Correlation and path analyses were conducted. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines were used to aid an accurate and complete report of the study. Depression, anxiety, and stress were positively associated with inadequate-self and hated-self while negatively associated with reassured-self. Both inadequate-self and hated-self partially mediated the stress–depression and stress–anxiety relationships, whereas reassured-self only partially mediated the stress–depression relationship. Inadequate-self had greater impact on the stress–depression/anxiety pathways than hated-self and reassured-self. Findings indicate that clinical treatment may benefit from targeting the feelings of inadequacy to prevent stress progressing to psychopathology. This is particularly relevant as stress levels are rising globally. Our findings offer developments to the Transactional Model, and help practitioners and educators identify solutions to protect mental health of Czech university students.

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