Assessment of mental health of university students faced with different lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic, a repeated cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Background: Studies have highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of university students. However, little is known about the psychological impact of successive lockdowns on this population. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of psychological distress in a student population during the first two lockdowns linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to stratify them by subgroup. Methods: We used a repeated cross-sectional study of a university student population in France during the first lockdown, the unlockdown, and the second lockdown. We measured rates of depression, anxiety, distress and suicidal ideation. A weighted prevalence was calculated with 95% confidence intervals. Predictors of symptom progression were measured using adjusted logistic regression. Results: 19,150 university students responded to the surveys. Our results suggest a significant decrease in the scores for depression (aOR = 0.64;CI% 0.59-0.70), anxiety (aOR = 0.81;CI% 0.74-0.88), and distress symptoms (aOR = 0.47;CI% 0.43-0.51) between the first lockdown and the lifting of the lockdown. However, a significant increase in symptoms of depression (aOR = 1.53;CI% 1.43-1.64), anxiety (aOR = 1.56;CI% 1.45-1.67) and suicidal ideation (aOR = 1.59;CI% 1.45-1.73) between the first and second lockdown is highlighted. The most impacted students are PhD students, they show a significant increase (aOR = 4.37;CI% 1.41-13.54) in suicidal ideation. Conclusion: Mental health professionals will need to be vigilant about this population, both to provide care for psychological distress, but also to reduce the risk of PhD students dropping out. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Chinese) COVID-19 ,-COVID-19 ,-, 95%19,150 -,(aOR = 0.64;CI%0.59-0.70)(aOR = 0.81;CI%0.74-0.88)(aOR = 0.47;CI%0.43-0.51),-(aOR = 1.53;CI%1.43-1.64)(aOR = 1.56;CI%1.45-1.67)(aOR = 1.59;CI%1.45-1.73),(aOR = 4.37;CI%1.41-13.54)-,, (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Spanish) Antecedentes Los estudios han destacado el impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 en la salud mental de los estudiantes universitarios. Sin embargo, poco se sabe acerca del impacto psicologico de los sucesivos confinamientos en esta poblacion. Objetivos: Evaluar la prevalencia del malestar psicologico en una poblacion estudiantil durante los primeros dos confinamientos vinculados a la pandemia COVID-19 y estratificarlos por subgrupos. Metodos: Utilizamos un estudio transversal repetido de una poblacion de estudiantes universitarios en Francia durante el primer confinamiento, el desbloqueo y el segundo confinamiento. Medimos las tasas de depresion, ansiedad, angustia e ideacion suicida. Se calculo una prevalencia ponderada con intervalos de confianza del 95%. Los predictores de la progresion de los sintomas se midieron mediante regresion logistica ajustada. Resultados: 19.150 estudiantes universitarios respondieron las encuestas. Nuestros resultados sugieren una disminucion significativa en los puntajes de depresion (aOR = 0.64;%IC 0.59-0.70), ansiedad (aOR = 0.81;%IC 0.74-0.88) y sintomas de angustia (aOR = 0.47;%IC 0.43-0.51) entre el primer confinamiento y el levantamiento de este. Sin embargo, se destaca un aumento significativo en los sintomas de depresion (aOR = 1.53;%IC 1.43-1.64), ansiedad (aOR = 1.56;%IC 1.45-1.67) e ideacion suicida (aOR = 1.59;%IC 1.45-1.73) entre el primer y segundo confinamiento. Los estudiantes mas afectados son los doctorandos, ellos muestran un aumento significativo (aOR = 4.37;%IC 1.41-13.54) de ideacion suicida. Conclusion: Los profesionales de salud mental deberan estar atentos a esta poblacion, tanto para proporcionar cuidado para el malestar psicologico, como tambien para reducir el riesgo de que los estudiantes de doctorado abandonen sus estudios. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)