Psychological Well-Being & COVID-19 in First Year College Students

Presenter Information

Hollie Minichiello
Madisen Reasonover

Faculty Sponsor

Paul Fuglestad, PhD, Zhiping Yu, PhD, RDN, LDN

Faculty Sponsor College

College of Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor Department

Psychology

Location

SOARS Virtual Conference

Presentation Website

https://unfsoars.domains.unf.edu/2021/posters/psychological-well-being-covid-19-in-first-year-college-students/

Keywords

SOARS (Conference) (2021 : University of North Florida) – Archives; SOARS (Conference) (2021 : University of North Florida) – Posters; University of North Florida -- Students -- Research – Posters; University of North Florida. Office of Undergraduate Research; University of North Florida. Graduate School; College students – Research -- Florida – Jacksonville – Posters; University of North Florida – Graduate students – Research – Posters; University of North Florida. Department of Psychology -- Research -- Posters

Abstract

Psychological well-being and COVID-19 in first-year college students. Hollie Minichiello, Madisen Reasonover, Paul Fuglestad, Ph.D., Zhiping Yu Ph.D. ABSTRACT: The current study investigated how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the well-being of first-semester undergraduate students. Psychological well-being, sleep quality, physical activity, and eating disturbances were compared between two different freshman cohorts: fall of 2019 and fall of 2020. A total of 96 freshman students 18 years and older from a southeastern university completed a set of questionnaires related to health and well-being, including the variables mentioned above (2019 cohort n = 32, 2020 cohort n = 64). Analysis of between-cohort differences revealed that the 2020 cohort reported greater anxiety (M = 17.98, p = .036) depression (M = 14.38, p = .045), and perceived stress (M = 20.87, p = .05) compared to the 2019 cohort (anxiety M= 11.83, depression M = 9.17, stress M = 17.69). Although differences were in the expected direction, the cohorts did not significantly differ with respect to sleep quality, physical activity, and eating disturbances. Overall, the findings suggest that COVID-19 has significantly affected college freshman students’ mental health. Intervention programs are needed to help students cope with significant, life-changing stressors like COVID-19.

Comments

Audio Presentation Transcript:

Hollie: “Psychological Well-Being and COVID-19 in First-Year College Students.

The novel Coronavirus 2019, known as COVID-19, struck the world in late 2019 and early 2020. The virus quickly spread, causing a global health emergency, and forcing a majority of countries to undergo full lockdown. This pandemic resulted in dramatic changes to daily lives, including economic and health impacts. A study conducted by Huckins and colleagues showed that winter 2020 college students reported increases in anxiety, depression, and sedentary lifestyles. Further, an increase in anxiety is linked to worrying regarding personal and loved ones’ health, disruption of sleep, decreased social interactions, concentration difficulties, and academic concerns.

The purpose of this study was to compare the well-being of incoming freshmen cohorts before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our current data is part of a larger, ongoing study that’s comparing 2019 and 2020 freshmen. A recruitment email was sent out to all incoming freshmen, in both the fall of 2019 and fall of 2020 term. Upon confirmation of consent, participants filled out a series of physical and mental health assessments, including the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, a Perceived Stress Scale, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire, Yale Food Addiction Questionnaire, the Exercise Dependence Scale, and a Physical Activity Questionnaire. Once completing the survey, participants received a $30 e gift card for their participation in the study.”

Madisen: “The total sample size consisted of 96 participants, at least 18 years of age. Of the 96 participants, 75.5% identified as female and 60.0% identified as Caucasian. The 2019 cohort consisted of 32 participants, with 77.4% identifying as female and 59.4% identifying as Caucasian, while the 2020 cohort consisted of 64 participants. Of the 64 participants, 74.6% identified as female and 60.3% identified as Caucasian. An analysis of between cohort differences revealed significant differences between the two cohorts regarding anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. The 2020 cohort reported a greater average level of anxiety with a mean of 17.98. The 2020 cohort also reported greater levels of depression with a mean of 14.38 as well as greater levels of perceived stress with a mean of 20.87. Compared to the 2020 cohort means, the 2019 cohort reported an average anxiety level of 11.83, an average depression level of 9.17, and an average perceived stress level of 17.69 Although the differences between cohorts were in the expected direction, the cohorts did not significantly differ with respect to sleep quality, physical activity and eating disturbances.

Further, our findings suggest that COVID-19 has significantly affected college freshmen students’ mental health. Thus, intervention programs are needed to help students cope with future, significant life-changing stressors, like COVID-19. These intervention programs should focus on management and promotion of psychological well-being in this population.

Thank you for listening!”

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