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The COVID-19 pandemic impacts psychiatric outcomes and alcohol use among college students.
Bountress, Kaitlin E; Cusack, Shannon E; Conley, Abigail H; Aggen, Steven H; Vassileva, Jasmin; Dick, Danielle M; Amstadter, Ananda B.
  • Bountress KE; Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
  • Cusack SE; Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
  • Conley AH; Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
  • Aggen SH; Department of Counseling and Special Education, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
  • The Spit For Science Working Group; Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
  • Vassileva J; Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
  • Dick DM; Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
  • Amstadter AB; Department of Counseling and Special Education, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
Eur J Psychotraumatol ; 13(1): 2022279, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1684419
ABSTRACT

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed fundamental challenges on nearly every area of life.

Objective:

The purpose of the current study was to expand on the literature on the impact of the pandemic on college students by a) examining domains of impact of the pandemic on psychiatric and alcohol outcomes and b) controlling for pre-pandemic outcomes.

Method:

Participants included 897 college students (78.6% female) from a larger longitudinal study on college student mental health. Structural equation models were fit to examine how COVID-19 impact (exposure, worry, food/housing insecurity, change in social media use, change in substance use) were associated with PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and alcohol phenotypes. Models were fit to adjust for pre-pandemic symptoms.

Results:

No effects of COVID-19 exposure remained after adjusting for earlier outcomes. COVID-19 worry predicted PTSD, depression, and anxiety, even after adjusting for earlier levels of outcomes (ß's .091-.180, p's < .05). Housing/food concerns predicted PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptoms as well as suicidal ideation (ß's .085-.551, p's < .05) after adjusting for earlier levels of symptoms. Change in media use predicted alcohol consumption (ß's ± .116-.197, p's < .05). Change in substance use affected all outcomes except suicidality (ß's .112-.591, p's < .05).

Conclusions:

Domains of COVID-19 impact had differential effects on mental health and substance outcomes in college students during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Future studies should examine the trajectory of these factors on college student mental health across waves of the pandemic.
RESUMEN
Antecedentes La pandemia de COVID-19 ha impuesto desafíos fundamentales en prácticamente todas las áreas de la vida.

Objetivo:

El propósito del presente estudio fue ampliar la literatura sobre el impacto de la pandemia en estudiantes universitarios, a) examinando dominios de impacto de la pandemia sobre resultados psiquiátricos y de alcohol, y b) controlando por resultados pre-pandemia.

Método:

Los participantes incluyeron 897 estudiantes universitarios (78,6% mujeres) de un estudio longitudinal más grande sobre salud mental de estudiantes universitarios. Se ajustaron modelos de ecuaciones estructurales para examinar cómo se asociaba el impacto del COVID-19 (exposición, preocupación, inseguridad de alimentos/habitación, cambio en el uso de medios sociales, cambio en uso de sustancias) con los fenotipos TEPT, ansiedad, depresión, ideación suicida y alcohol. Los modelos se ajustaron por síntomas pre-pandémicos.

Resultados:

No permanecieron efectos de la exposición al COVID-19 luego de ajustar por resultados previos. La preocupación por el COVID-19 predijo TEPT, depresión y ansiedad incluso luego de ajustar por niveles previos de resultados (ß's .091­.180, p's < .05). Los problemas de habitación/alimentación predijeron síntomas de TEPT, ansiedad y depresión así como también ideación suicida (ß's .085­.551, p's < .05) después de ajustar por niveles sintomáticos previos. El cambio en el uso de medios predijo el consumo de alcohol (ß's ±.116­.197, p's < .05). El cambio en el uso de sustancias afectó a todos los resultados excepto suicidalidad (ß's .112­.591, p's < .05).

Conclusiones:

Los dominios de impacto del COVID-19 tuvieron diferentes efectos sobre los resultados de salud mental y uso de sustancias en estudiantes universitarios durante la primera ola de la pandemia de coronavirus. Futuros estudios deberían examinar la trayectoria de esos factores en la salud mental de estudiantes universitarios a través de las olas de la pandemia.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Students / Alcohol Drinking / COVID-19 / Mental Disorders Type of study: Cohort study / Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Topics: Long Covid Limits: Adolescent / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Eur J Psychotraumatol Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 20008198.2021.2022279

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Students / Alcohol Drinking / COVID-19 / Mental Disorders Type of study: Cohort study / Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Topics: Long Covid Limits: Adolescent / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Eur J Psychotraumatol Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 20008198.2021.2022279