Assessment of psychological distress as a function of positive psychological variables during the COVID-19 pandemic: A university longitudinal study.

Objective: To examine changes in psychological distress of college students as a function of demographic and psychological variables over time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: Subjects were recruited from a large public university in Northeast Ohio using electronic surveys administered at three time points in 2020. Methods: Demographics, positive psychological metrics (flourishing, perceived social support, and resilience) and psychological distress were collected and a mixed linear model was run to estimate their effect on change in distress. Results: Psychological distress did not change significantly across time. Females experienced more psychological distress than males. Higher levels of flourishing, perceived social support, and resilience were associated with less distress overall. Conclusions: Although psychological distress did not change across observed time, previous data suggests heightened psychological distress that remained elevated across observed time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Positive psychological variables were shown to mitigate psychological distress, and the relationship was stable over time.

Changes in alcohol use as a function of psychological distress and social support following COVID-19 related University closings.

Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, universities across the country abruptly closed campuses and transitioned to remote learning. The effects of these unprecedented closures are unknown. The current study examined reported alcohol consumption during the week prior to and after campus closure at a public university in Northeast Ohio. Analysis of data from 1,958 students, who endorsed using alcohol in the past 30 days, demonstrates that alcohol consumption (amount and frequency) increased as time progressed. Those with more symptoms of depression and anxiety reported greater increases in alcohol consumption (assessed via retrospective timeline follow-back) compared to students with fewer symptoms. Furthermore, students with greater perceived social support reported less alcohol consumption. Together, these findings highlight the need for universities to offer services and programs to students that will minimize risk factors and maximize protective factors in order to reduce or prevent alcohol abuse during the coronavirus pandemic.