The impact of COVID-19 on mental health in university students: A mini-review of the current literature

ABSTRACT

Students are some of the primary psychological victims of the global health crisis. This population is particularly sensitive to stress, and is also prone to developing substance and behavioral addictions, including food addictions, which may be exacerbated by the lockdown and health measures. Levels of stress, anxiety, loneliness, and depressive symptoms among students have increased since the coronavirus crisis. Several studies show that drug use, including alcohol, has also increased since the implementation of health measures. Interestingly, the stress that was most perceived by students with addiction problems was mainly due to uncertainty about the organization of daily life and the expected consequences of the lockdown. Stress appeared to be more prevalent among female students and was associated with more anxiety disorders, more exposure to the media, and less social support. When problematic eating behaviors were already present before the lockdown, the stress of the lockdown increased them. Protective factors such as social support and regular contact with family protected against stress and the various addictive issues studied. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Abstract (French) Les etudiants sont en premiere ligne des victimes psychologiques de la crise sanitaire mondiale. Cette population particulierement sensible au stress, est aussi sujette a developper des addictions aux substances ou des addictions comportementales, notamment sur le plan alimentaire;difficultes qui pourraient etre aggravees par le confinement et les mesures sanitaires. Les niveaux de stress, d'anxiete, de solitude et de symptomes depressifs des etudiants ont augmente depuis la crise du coronavirus. Concernant la consommation de drogues, dont l'alcool, plusieurs etudes montrent qu'elle a egalement augmente depuis la mise en place de mesures sanitaires. De maniere interessante, le stress qui est le plus perc u par les etudiants victimes de problematiques d'addiction etait principalement attribuable a l'incertitude liee a l'organisation de la vie quotidienne et aux consequences prevues du confinement. Le stress semble plus concerner les etudiantes et il est associe a plus de troubles anxio-depressifs, plus d'exposition aux medias et moins de soutien social. Lorsque des comportements alimentaires problematiques etaient deja presents avant le confinement, le stress du au confinement les a augmentes. Les facteurs de protection par exemple un support social, des contacts reguliers avec la famille protegeaient du stress et des differentes problematiques addictives etudiees. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)