scholarly journals The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students’ Mental Health and Sleep in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 9344
Author(s):  
Azizah Alyoubi ◽  
Elizabeth J. Halstead ◽  
Zoe Zambelli ◽  
Dagmara Dimitriou
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Psychological Resilience ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact

Background: Mental health problems are prevalent among university students in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students’ mental health and sleep in Saudi Arabia. Method: A total of 582 undergraduate students from Saudi Arabia aged between 18 and 45 years old (M = 20.91, SD = 3.17) completed a cross-sectional online questionnaire measuring depression, anxiety, stress, resilience, and insomnia during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020). Analysis included an independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Hierarchical regression analysis. Results: Undergraduate students reported high levels of depression, anxiety, and perceived stress and low levels of resilience (p < 0.001) during the pandemic. In addition, students reported experiencing insomnia. A hierarchical regression analysis indicated that lower resilience, high levels of insomnia, having a pre-existing mental health condition, and learning difficulties (such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, or dyscalculia) were significantly associated with high levels of depression and stress. In addition, lower resilience, a high level of insomnia, and pre-existing mental health conditions were significantly associated with high levels of anxiety. Finally, a lower level of psychological resilience and a high level of insomnia were significantly associated with increased levels of depression, anxiety and stress within university students. Conclusion: This study has provided evidence that a lower level of psychological resilience and insomnia were associated with mental health problems among undergraduate students in Saudi Arabia, thus enhancing psychological resilience and interventions to support sleep and mental health are vital to support student well-being outcomes throughout the pandemic.

scholarly journals A Qualitative Study of COVID-19 Distress in University Students

2021 ◽  
pp. 216769682110251
Author(s):  
Samantha G. Farris ◽  
Mindy M. Kibbey ◽  
Erick J. Fedorenko ◽  
Angelo M. DiBello
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Financial Strain ◽  
Public Response ◽  
Viral Spread ◽  
Future Work ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Viral Outbreak ◽  
Selection Of

The psychological effect of the pandemic and measures taken in response to control viral spread are not yet well understood in university students; in-depth qualitative analysis can provide nuanced information about the young adult distress experience. Undergraduate students ( N = 624) in an early US outbreak “hotspot” completed an online narrative writing about the impact and distress experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected April-May 2020. A random selection of 50 cases were sampled for thematic analysis. Nine themes were identified: viral outbreak distress, fear of virus contraction/transmission, proximity to virus, dissatisfaction with public response, physical distancing distress, social distancing distress, academic and school-related distress, disruptive changes in health behavior and routines, financial strain and unemployment, worsening of pre-existing mental health problems, and social referencing that minimizes distress. Future work is needed to understand the persistence of the distress, in addition to developing methods for assessment, monitoring, and mitigation of the distress.

scholarly journals Moderating Effect of Mindfulness on the Influence of Stress on Depression According to the Level of Stress among University Students in South Korea

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6634
Author(s):  
Kwang-Hi Park ◽  
Hyunlye Kim ◽  
Jaehee Kim
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
University Students ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Multiple Regression Analysis ◽  
Multiple Regression ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
The Impact

Stress and depression are representative of the mental health problems of university students worldwide. This cross-sectional study explored the moderating effect of mindfulness on the influence of stress on depression according to the degree of life stress. The participants were 738 university students in years 2–4 in five 4-year universities in South Korea. Depression was positively correlated with stress and negatively with mindfulness at a statistically significant level. In multiple regression analysis, stress was found to have an effect by increasing depression, and mindfulness by relieving depression. In the moderated multiple regression analysis, mindfulness had a moderating effect on the impact of stress on depression only in low-stress groups, showing that the interaction of stress with mindfulness was significantly negative (β = −0.11, t = −2.52, p = 0.012) and the inclusion of this interaction significantly increased the explanatory power for depression variation (F change 6.36, p = 0.012) in the full model. In conclusion, we suggest considering stress levels in the development of mindfulness-based intervention strategies to effectively manage the depression of university students.

Mental health problems among university students and the impact of structural conditions

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franziska Wörfel ◽  
Burkhard Gusy ◽  
Katrin Lohmann ◽  
Katharina Töpritz ◽  
Dieter Kleiber
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Protective role of resilience on COVID-19 impact on the quality of life of nursing students in the Philippines

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-49
Author(s):  
Jean Nunez Guillasper ◽  
Ryan Michael Flores Oducado ◽  
Gil Platon Soriano
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Psychological Resilience ◽  
The Impact

Background: Studies have shown that resilience has a buffering effect on mental health problems. However, the influence of resilience on the impact on the Quality of Life (QoL) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic has not been well documented.Objective: This study examined the influence of resilience on the COVID-19 impact on QoL among nursing students.Methods: A cross-sectional research design was utilized. Three hundred and forty-five students of a government-funded nursing school in the Philippines responded in the web-based survey. Data were gathered using two adopted instruments from 18 to 31 August 2020. Test for differences and correlational analyses were performed.Results: The COVID-19 pandemic had a moderate impact on the QoL of nursing students. The COVID-19 impact on QoL significantly varied with sex and the nearby presence of COVID-19 cases. Bivariate analysis revealed a significant moderate inverse relationship between psychological resilience and the impact of COVID-19 on QoL.Conclusion: Resilience has a protective influence on the impact on QoL concerning main areas of mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the factors and developing interventions that build the resilience of students is a focal point of action for nursing schools.

scholarly journals The Impact of Extended E-Learning on Emotional Well-Being of Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Sehar-un-Nisa Hassan ◽  
Fahad D. Algahtani ◽  
Mohammad Raafat Atteya ◽  
Ali A. Almishaal ◽  
Ahmed A. Ahmed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
University Students ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Academic Calendar ◽  
E Learning ◽  
The Impact

Educational institutions in Saudi Arabia extended e-learning until the third semester of the academic calendar to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection and to achieve 70% inoculation for the Saudi population. This study assesses the impact of extended e-learning and other associated stressors on the emotional health of university students in Saudi Arabia. An online cross-sectional survey collected data between the months of January–March 2021. The emotional signs of stress were measured by using a subset of items from the COVID-19 Adolescent Symptom and Psychological Experience Questionnaire (CASPE). Data about demographic variables, educational characteristics and academic performance were also collected. A regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of emotional health. A total of 434 university students including females (63%) and males (37%) provided responses. One-third of students (33%) indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting changes including online distance studies greatly influenced their daily lives in a negative way. The regression analysis demonstrated that female students and students with average academic performance had increased vulnerability to experience emotional signs of stress (p < 0.05). The factors ‘Not going to university’ and ‘Not having a routine life’ were significant predictors of stress responses (p < 0.01) and (p < 0.001) respectively. E-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic made it possible for students to complete their studies as per academic calendar; simultaneously, it increased the vulnerability to experience stress, particularly for female students and students with average academic performance. These findings imply that academic advising and counseling services should be more readily available during digital studies to support at risk students.

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

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.

EFFECT OF THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sulhi Alfakeh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
University Students ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Full Time ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The continuous reporting of the latest confirmed COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia and globally, with the concomitant social distancing measures and university closures, is likely to affect the mental wellbeing of many university students. There have been many reports on the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the public, hospital staff, patients, children, and older adults [4,5]. However, to date, only a few studies on the mental health effects of COVID-19 and the wellbeing of college students have been conducted during the pandemic [6]. In this study, we aimed to estimate the mental health impact of COVID-19 on university students in Saudi Arabia. We conducted our study to learn more about the psychological status of university students through the pandemic for the following reasons: to evaluate the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression of university students during the pandemic; and to provide a basis for universities and governmental policies to support university students affected by the impact of COVID-19. OBJECTIVE Objective: To estimate the psychological impact of COVID-19 on university students in Saudi Arabia. METHODS Method: The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21 (DASS-21) questionnaire was distributed via the university students’ accounts. Of the 71,945 full-time undergraduate university students, 3,515 respondents completed the questionnaires. The study questionnaire also included demographic information, including age, gender, source of income, living arrangements, smoking status, and weekly physical exercise. RESULTS Results: Nearly half of participants had normal stress (40.5%, n = 1425) and anxiety (42.4%, n = 1492) levels. In terms of depression, nearly one-third of subjects were classified as ‘normal’ (29.3%, n = 1031); however, one-fourth of them were classified as ‘extremely severe’ (23.8%, n = 838). There were significantly higher levels of stress among female students. Also, a significantly higher rate of male students (50.4%, n = 667) had normal anxiety levels, compared with female students (37.7%, n = 825). Finally. significantly higher proportion of female students had symptoms of depression (72.66%, n = 1,592) compared with the degrees of depression among male students (67.37%, n = 892). CONCLUSIONS Conclusion: We detected that stress, anxiety, and depression increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and university students were at more risk of developing mental health issues. Ongoing follow-up and monitoring of psychological consequences and their potential negative impact on academic performance and mental wellbeing are needed. CLINICALTRIAL none

Self-Compassion: Evaluation of a Psychoeducational Website

2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
France Talbot ◽  
Judith Thériault ◽  
Douglas J. French
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Psychological Services ◽  
Critical Difference ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Difference Statistic ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
The Impact

Background: Low levels of self-compassion are associated with a number of mental health problems. Recent findings suggest that self-compassion can be significantly increased through traditional therapist led interventions such as Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC). Aims: The goal of this study was to assess the impact of a psychoeducational website modeled on MSC on measured levels of self-compassion and two related constructs: shame and rumination. Method: Participants (N = 9) were recruited from a pool of university students and employees. Single case AB protocols were used. Results: Analyses using the Critical Difference statistic revealed significant improvement in self-compassion and shame for the majority of participants, but limited changes in rumination. Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that self-compassion may be enhanced through the use of a psychoeducational website. It may be worthwhile to develop a structured internet-based treatment course for individuals who would not otherwise access traditional psychological services.

scholarly journals Characteristics of Adaptation in Undergraduate University Students Suddenly Exposed to Fully Online Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daiki Ishimaru ◽  
Hiroyoshi Adachi ◽  
Hajime Nagahara ◽  
Shizuka Shirai ◽  
Haruo Takemura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Online Education ◽  
University Students ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Sleep Time ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
School Adaptation ◽  
The Impact

This study aimed to clarify the adaptation features of University students exposed to fully online education during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to identify accompanying mental health problems and predictors of school adaptation. The pandemic has forced many universities to transition rapidly to delivering online education. However, little is known about the impact of this drastic change on students' school adaptation. This cross-sectional study used an online questionnaire, including assessments of impressions of online education, study engagement, mental health, and lifestyle habits. In total, 1,259 students were assessed. The characteristics of school adaptation were analyzed by a two-step cluster analysis. The proportion of mental health problems was compared among different groups based on a cluster analysis. A logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of cluster membership. P-values &lt; 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The two-step cluster analysis determined three clusters: school adaptation group, school maladaptation group, and school over-adaptation group. The last group significantly exhibited the most mental health problems. Membership of this group was significantly associated with being female (OR = 1.42; 95% CI 1.06–1.91), being older (OR = 1.21; 95% CI 1.01–1.44), those who considered online education to be less beneficial (OR = 2.17; 95% CI 1.64–2.88), shorter sleep time on weekdays (OR = 0.826; 95% CI 0.683–.998), longer sleep time on holidays (OR = 1.21; 95% CI 1.03–1.43), and worse restorative sleep (OR = 2.27; 95% CI 1.81–2.86). The results suggest that academic staff should understand distinctive features of school adaptation owing to the rapid transition of the educational system and should develop support systems to improve students' mental health. They should consider ways to incorporate online classes with their lectures to improve students' perceived benefits of online education. Additionally, educational guidance on lifestyle, such as sleep hygiene, may be necessary.

scholarly journals ADHD symptoms in relation to depressive and sleep-related symptoms among university students during the COVID-19 outbreak in Japan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshinobu Takeda ◽  
Yui Tsuji ◽  
Reiko Akatsu ◽  
Tatsuya Nomura
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Circadian Rhythm ◽  
University Students ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Cutoff Score ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Public Health Perspective

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated societal response are anticipated to have wide-ranging effects on youth development and mental health. The three most common mental health problems among university students are depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many factors that can threaten the mental health during the outbreak affect these three conditions as well as the sleep conditions of the undergraduate students. Thus, determining how these abrupt changes in students’ circumstances will impact their mental health is very important from a public health perspective. Objective: We investigated both usual conditions and changes during the outbreak in sleep, depression, and ADHD symptoms among undergraduate students. Methods: A total of 252 students, primarily juniors answered the online survey. Results: As a result, 12% of the students exceeded the cutoff score of the ADHD questionnaire before the pandemic and approximately 6-21 % of the students especially with ADHD traits rated their ADHD behaviors as worse during the outbreak. Additionally, changes in circadian rhythm, depression, and ADHD symptoms are intertwined and often create a vicious cycle. Conclusion: This study suggested that students with ADHD-trait is more susceptible to further deterioration in their daily lives during the pandemic. In case it is difficult to intervene with ADHD symptoms, approaching circadian rhythm or depression will be of clinical use.

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