Edgar Voltmer1, Susen Köslich-Strumann2, Anna Walther2, Mahmoud Kasem2, Katrin Obst2, Thomas Kötter3. 1. Institute for Social Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany. edgar.voltmer@uksh.de. 2. Institute for Social Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany. 3. Institute of Family Medicine, University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562, Lübeck, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to massive restrictions in public and private lives, including a shut-down of face-to-face teaching at universities in Germany. We aimed to examine the impact of these changes on perceived stress, mental health and (study-)related health behavior of students in a longitudinal study. METHODS: For two timepoints - the year before the COVID-19 pandemic (2019, n = 1377) and the year during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020, n = 1867) - we surveyed students of all faculties at one German university for perceptions and preventive behavior regarding the COVID-19 pandemic using standard instruments for stress, anxiety, depression, and behavior and experience patterns. RESULTS: About 90% of students (n = 1633) in 2020 did not have a known contact infected with SARS-CoV-2, while 180 (9.8%) did have one. Only 10 respondents (0.5%) reported an infection with SARS-CoV-2. Wearing masks and washing hands more often were practiced by ≥80% of students. Taking more care about cleanliness (51.8%) and using disinfectants (39.2%) were practiced much less. A higher percentage of female compared with male students and medical/health science students compared with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics students engaged more frequently in specific or nonspecific preventive measures. More than three quarters (77.1%) of all students rated their general health as (very) good. There were no significant differences in general health, stress, and depression between 2019 and 2020 in the students who responded at both timepoints. The distribution of behavior and experience patterns for this group showed a slight but significant difference from 2019 to 2020, namely decreasing proportions of students with a healthy pattern and a risk pattern for overexertion. Students with different behavior and experience patterns showed marked differences in perceptions and reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as psychosocial stress and symptoms, with higher scores for mental health symptoms and lower scores in preventive behavior regarding risk patterns. CONCLUSION: Despite massive alterations to students' lives in 2020, there were only moderate consequences for mental health compared with 2019 in the total student group of this German university. However, identifying students at risk would offer opportunities to foster mental health in relevant subgroups.
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to massive restrictions in public and private lives, including a shut-down of face-to-face teaching at universities in Germany. We aimed to examine the impact of these changes on perceived stress, mental health and (study-)related health behavior of students in a longitudinal study. METHODS: For two timepoints - the year before the COVID-19 pandemic (2019, n = 1377) and the year during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020, n = 1867) - we surveyed students of all faculties at one German university for perceptions and preventive behavior regarding the COVID-19 pandemic using standard instruments for stress, anxiety, depression, and behavior and experience patterns. RESULTS: About 90% of students (n = 1633) in 2020 did not have a known contact infected with SARS-CoV-2, while 180 (9.8%) did have one. Only 10 respondents (0.5%) reported an infection with SARS-CoV-2. Wearing masks and washing hands more often were practiced by ≥80% of students. Taking more care about cleanliness (51.8%) and using disinfectants (39.2%) were practiced much less. A higher percentage of female compared with male students and medical/health science students compared with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics students engaged more frequently in specific or nonspecific preventive measures. More than three quarters (77.1%) of all students rated their general health as (very) good. There were no significant differences in general health, stress, and depression between 2019 and 2020 in the students who responded at both timepoints. The distribution of behavior and experience patterns for this group showed a slight but significant difference from 2019 to 2020, namely decreasing proportions of students with a healthy pattern and a risk pattern for overexertion. Students with different behavior and experience patterns showed marked differences in perceptions and reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as psychosocial stress and symptoms, with higher scores for mental health symptoms and lower scores in preventive behavior regarding risk patterns. CONCLUSION: Despite massive alterations to students' lives in 2020, there were only moderate consequences for mental health compared with 2019 in the total student group of this German university. However, identifying students at risk would offer opportunities to foster mental health in relevant subgroups.
Authors: Hee Jun Kim; Timothy J Meeker; Ingrid K Tulloch; Jake Mullins; Jin-Hee Park; Sun Hyoung Bae Journal: Int J Public Health Date: 2022-05-13 Impact factor: 5.100
Authors: Diana Vlăduțu; Sanda Mihaela Popescu; Răzvan Mercuț; Mihaela Ionescu; Monica Scrieciu; Adina Dorina Glodeanu; Andreea Stănuși; Ana Maria Rîcă; Veronica Mercuț Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-29 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Julia Ballmann; Stefanie M Helmer; Gabriele Berg-Beckhoff; Julie Dalgaard Guldager; Signe Smith Jervelund; Heide Busse; Claudia R Pischke; Sarah Negash; Claus Wendt; Christiane Stock Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-02-03 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Laura E Meine; Eike Strömer; Sandra Schönfelder; Eliza I Eckhardt; Anna K Bergmann; Michèle Wessa Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2021-12-21 Impact factor: 4.157