Event Title
Exploring Differential Impacts of COVID-19 related Fear and Psychological Health Consequences on College Students
Start Date
21-6-2021 10:10 AM
End Date
21-6-2021 10:55 AM
Topic
Mental Health
Session Chair
Lindsey Disney
Abstract
The novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has had devastating impacts across the world, including lockdowns, drastic levels of mortality, economic recession and substantial stress on both individuals and the healthcare system. The spread of COVID-19 has induced fear and stress therefore increasing the risk and severity of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Increased evidence posits that individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 in the United States. Moreover, ethnic minority college students may be especially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic due to academic, physical, financial, and psychological stressors. Understanding the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on different ethnic minority subgroups is important to support individuals most likely to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study examined the impact of fear related to the COVID-19 pandemic among undergraduate students’ mental health across different racial groups. The authors hypothesized that ethnic minority groups would report higher fear of COVID-19 due to differential impacts the disease has had on these communities. Secondly, the study examined if COVID-19 related fear would predict higher anxiety and depression. Lastly, coping strategies were examined to determine whether college students employed behaviors that may impact their psychological health. Data were collected from 249 students between April 2020 and November 2020. Self-report questionnaires assessing COVID-19 related fear, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and coping strategies were ascertained using Qualtrics software. Results from an analysis of variance (ANCOVA) suggested that White students endorsed significantly less COVID-19 related fear compared to Black and Asian students even after controlling for sex and income. Furthermore, regression analyses revealed that COVID-19 related fear was a unique predictor for higher anxiety and depressive symptoms among students after controlling for sex, income, and race. Coping behaviors such as denial, substance use, self-distraction/action, and negative coping were also predictive of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Black and Asian students had significantly higher COVID-19 related fear than other racial groups, and students with higher COVID-19 related fear reported increased depression and anxiety. These preliminary findings provide insight on the role of race and ethnicity on fear perceptions of COVID-19 and may help to inform the development of strategies targeted toward vulnerable communities to alleviate emotional burden and provide better support both during and beyond these unprecedented times.
Document Type
Extended Abstract
Exploring Differential Impacts of COVID-19 related Fear and Psychological Health Consequences on College Students
The novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has had devastating impacts across the world, including lockdowns, drastic levels of mortality, economic recession and substantial stress on both individuals and the healthcare system. The spread of COVID-19 has induced fear and stress therefore increasing the risk and severity of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Increased evidence posits that individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 in the United States. Moreover, ethnic minority college students may be especially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic due to academic, physical, financial, and psychological stressors. Understanding the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on different ethnic minority subgroups is important to support individuals most likely to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study examined the impact of fear related to the COVID-19 pandemic among undergraduate students’ mental health across different racial groups. The authors hypothesized that ethnic minority groups would report higher fear of COVID-19 due to differential impacts the disease has had on these communities. Secondly, the study examined if COVID-19 related fear would predict higher anxiety and depression. Lastly, coping strategies were examined to determine whether college students employed behaviors that may impact their psychological health. Data were collected from 249 students between April 2020 and November 2020. Self-report questionnaires assessing COVID-19 related fear, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and coping strategies were ascertained using Qualtrics software. Results from an analysis of variance (ANCOVA) suggested that White students endorsed significantly less COVID-19 related fear compared to Black and Asian students even after controlling for sex and income. Furthermore, regression analyses revealed that COVID-19 related fear was a unique predictor for higher anxiety and depressive symptoms among students after controlling for sex, income, and race. Coping behaviors such as denial, substance use, self-distraction/action, and negative coping were also predictive of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Black and Asian students had significantly higher COVID-19 related fear than other racial groups, and students with higher COVID-19 related fear reported increased depression and anxiety. These preliminary findings provide insight on the role of race and ethnicity on fear perceptions of COVID-19 and may help to inform the development of strategies targeted toward vulnerable communities to alleviate emotional burden and provide better support both during and beyond these unprecedented times.
Comments
The recording of this speaker ends at 1:49:10