A mixed-methods approach to understand university students' perceived impact of returning to class during COVID-19 on their mental and general health
This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of mental and general health symptoms among university students attending in-person and online classes during COVID-19. We also explored their experiences returning to in-person classes and their views on the university's COVID-19-related...
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| creator | Ding, Qinglan Ward, Mark Daniel Edwards, Nancy Wu, Emily Anna Kersey, Susan Funk, Marjorie |
| description | This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of mental and general health symptoms among university students attending in-person and online classes during COVID-19. We also explored their experiences returning to in-person classes and their views on the university's COVID-19-related policies.
In this sequential explanatory mixed-methods study (2020-2021), U.S. university student respondents (N = 1030; 603 women [58.5%], 907 [88.1%] aged 18-24 years) completed a quantitative, cross-sectional survey assessing their mental and general health symptoms experienced while taking classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey link was distributed through social media and email invitations. Three separate follow-up focus groups (n = 27), consisting of an average of nine focus group respondents who had completed the quantitative survey per group, were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Focus group respondents provided qualitative responses on their experiences returning to class during COVID-19 and adhering to COVID-19-related policies.
The prevalence of mental health symptoms among survey respondents were 57.6% (n = 593) for depression, 41.5% (n = 427) for anxiety, and 40.8% (n = 420) for stress. Over 90% of respondents reported perceptions of good general health. Female respondents and respondents identified as non-binary gender had an increased risk for mental health symptoms compared to male respondents. Respondents with preexisting medical conditions had an increased risk for worse general health. Themes identified through qualitative analysis included (1) attending class during COVID-19 is associated with unhealthy behaviors, and poor health, (2) perceived challenges of online learning and increased feelings of isolation, (3) demand for COVID-19 policy reform and greater transparency of COVID-19 statistics; (4) difficulties in adhering to COVID-19 policies; and (5) concerns about acquiring and transmitting COVID-19.
Our findings indicate that university students attending classes during the pandemic are experiencing negative mental health impacts. Although students were aware of COVID-19-related policies, many found it challenging to comply. Broad acceptance of COVID-19 policies will require greater transparency and information sharing. |
| doi_str_mv | 10.1371/journal.pone.0279813 |
| format | Article |
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In this sequential explanatory mixed-methods study (2020-2021), U.S. university student respondents (N = 1030; 603 women [58.5%], 907 [88.1%] aged 18-24 years) completed a quantitative, cross-sectional survey assessing their mental and general health symptoms experienced while taking classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey link was distributed through social media and email invitations. Three separate follow-up focus groups (n = 27), consisting of an average of nine focus group respondents who had completed the quantitative survey per group, were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Focus group respondents provided qualitative responses on their experiences returning to class during COVID-19 and adhering to COVID-19-related policies.
The prevalence of mental health symptoms among survey respondents were 57.6% (n = 593) for depression, 41.5% (n = 427) for anxiety, and 40.8% (n = 420) for stress. Over 90% of respondents reported perceptions of good general health. Female respondents and respondents identified as non-binary gender had an increased risk for mental health symptoms compared to male respondents. Respondents with preexisting medical conditions had an increased risk for worse general health. Themes identified through qualitative analysis included (1) attending class during COVID-19 is associated with unhealthy behaviors, and poor health, (2) perceived challenges of online learning and increased feelings of isolation, (3) demand for COVID-19 policy reform and greater transparency of COVID-19 statistics; (4) difficulties in adhering to COVID-19 policies; and (5) concerns about acquiring and transmitting COVID-19.
Our findings indicate that university students attending classes during the pandemic are experiencing negative mental health impacts. Although students were aware of COVID-19-related policies, many found it challenging to comply. Broad acceptance of COVID-19 policies will require greater transparency and information sharing.</description><identifier>ISSN: 1932-6203</identifier><identifier>EISSN: 1932-6203</identifier><identifier>DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279813</identifier><identifier>PMID: 36595550</identifier><language>eng</language><publisher>United States: Public Library of Science</publisher><subject>Anxiety ; Biology and Life Sciences ; Care and treatment ; College students ; Colleges & universities ; Coronaviruses ; COVID-19 ; COVID-19 - epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Focus groups ; Health aspects ; Health risks ; Health Status ; Humans ; Information dissemination ; Male ; Medicine and Health Sciences ; Mental depression ; Mental health ; Mixed methods research ; Non-binary gender ; Pandemics ; Policies ; Policy reform ; Polls & surveys ; Psychological aspects ; Qualitative analysis ; Qualitative research ; Reforms ; Research and Analysis Methods ; Respondents ; Risk ; Risk analysis ; Risk factors ; Social classes ; Social media ; Social networks ; Social Sciences ; Statistical analysis ; Statistics ; Students ; Surveys ; Transparency ; Universities ; University students</subject><ispartof>PloS one, 2023-01, Vol.18 (1), p.e0279813-e0279813</ispartof><rights>Copyright: © 2023 Ding et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.</rights><rights>COPYRIGHT 2023 Public Library of Science</rights><rights>2023 Ding et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.</rights><rights>2023 Ding et al 2023 Ding et al</rights><lds50>peer_reviewed</lds50><oa>free_for_read</oa><woscitedreferencessubscribed>false</woscitedreferencessubscribed><citedby>FETCH-LOGICAL-c692t-d0981d01319bea16d34fa49a66d466956d18187462ef86966922d978f330ec43</citedby><cites>FETCH-LOGICAL-c692t-d0981d01319bea16d34fa49a66d466956d18187462ef86966922d978f330ec43</cites><orcidid>0000-0002-0390-801X ; 0000-0001-7431-0288 ; 0000-0003-2601-1886</orcidid></display><links><openurl>$$Topenurl_article</openurl><openurlfulltext>$$Topenurlfull_article</openurlfulltext><thumbnail>$$Tsyndetics_thumb_exl</thumbnail><linktopdf>$$Uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9810175/pdf/$$EPDF$$P50$$Gpubmedcentral$$Hfree_for_read</linktopdf><linktohtml>$$Uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9810175/$$EHTML$$P50$$Gpubmedcentral$$Hfree_for_read</linktohtml><link.rule.ids>230,314,723,776,780,860,881,2096,2915,23845,27843,27901,27902,53766,53768,79342,79343</link.rule.ids><backlink>$$Uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36595550$$D View this record in MEDLINE/PubMed$$Hfree_for_read</backlink></links><search><creatorcontrib>Ding, Qinglan</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Ward, Mark Daniel</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Edwards, Nancy</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Wu, Emily Anna</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Kersey, Susan</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Funk, Marjorie</creatorcontrib><title>A mixed-methods approach to understand university students' perceived impact of returning to class during COVID-19 on their mental and general health</title><title>PloS one</title><addtitle>PLoS One</addtitle><description>This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of mental and general health symptoms among university students attending in-person and online classes during COVID-19. We also explored their experiences returning to in-person classes and their views on the university's COVID-19-related policies.
In this sequential explanatory mixed-methods study (2020-2021), U.S. university student respondents (N = 1030; 603 women [58.5%], 907 [88.1%] aged 18-24 years) completed a quantitative, cross-sectional survey assessing their mental and general health symptoms experienced while taking classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey link was distributed through social media and email invitations. Three separate follow-up focus groups (n = 27), consisting of an average of nine focus group respondents who had completed the quantitative survey per group, were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Focus group respondents provided qualitative responses on their experiences returning to class during COVID-19 and adhering to COVID-19-related policies.
The prevalence of mental health symptoms among survey respondents were 57.6% (n = 593) for depression, 41.5% (n = 427) for anxiety, and 40.8% (n = 420) for stress. Over 90% of respondents reported perceptions of good general health. Female respondents and respondents identified as non-binary gender had an increased risk for mental health symptoms compared to male respondents. Respondents with preexisting medical conditions had an increased risk for worse general health. Themes identified through qualitative analysis included (1) attending class during COVID-19 is associated with unhealthy behaviors, and poor health, (2) perceived challenges of online learning and increased feelings of isolation, (3) demand for COVID-19 policy reform and greater transparency of COVID-19 statistics; (4) difficulties in adhering to COVID-19 policies; and (5) concerns about acquiring and transmitting COVID-19.
Our findings indicate that university students attending classes during the pandemic are experiencing negative mental health impacts. Although students were aware of COVID-19-related policies, many found it challenging to comply. 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mixed-methods approach to understand university students' perceived impact of returning to class during COVID-19 on their mental and general health</title><author>Ding, Qinglan ; Ward, Mark Daniel ; Edwards, Nancy ; Wu, Emily Anna ; Kersey, Susan ; Funk, Marjorie</author></sort><facets><frbrtype>5</frbrtype><frbrgroupid>cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c692t-d0981d01319bea16d34fa49a66d466956d18187462ef86966922d978f330ec43</frbrgroupid><rsrctype>articles</rsrctype><prefilter>articles</prefilter><language>eng</language><creationdate>2023</creationdate><topic>Anxiety</topic><topic>Biology and Life Sciences</topic><topic>Care and treatment</topic><topic>College students</topic><topic>Colleges & universities</topic><topic>Coronaviruses</topic><topic>COVID-19</topic><topic>COVID-19 - epidemiology</topic><topic>Cross-Sectional Studies</topic><topic>Female</topic><topic>Focus groups</topic><topic>Health aspects</topic><topic>Health risks</topic><topic>Health 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Academic</collection><collection>PubMed Central (Full Participant titles)</collection><collection>DOAJ Directory of Open Access Journals</collection><jtitle>PloS one</jtitle></facets><delivery><delcategory>Remote Search Resource</delcategory><fulltext>fulltext</fulltext></delivery><addata><au>Ding, Qinglan</au><au>Ward, Mark Daniel</au><au>Edwards, Nancy</au><au>Wu, Emily Anna</au><au>Kersey, Susan</au><au>Funk, Marjorie</au><format>journal</format><genre>article</genre><ristype>JOUR</ristype><atitle>A mixed-methods approach to understand university students' perceived impact of returning to class during COVID-19 on their mental and general health</atitle><jtitle>PloS one</jtitle><addtitle>PLoS One</addtitle><date>2023-01-03</date><risdate>2023</risdate><volume>18</volume><issue>1</issue><spage>e0279813</spage><epage>e0279813</epage><pages>e0279813-e0279813</pages><issn>1932-6203</issn><eissn>1932-6203</eissn><abstract>This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of mental and general health symptoms among university students attending in-person and online classes during COVID-19. We also explored their experiences returning to in-person classes and their views on the university's COVID-19-related policies.
In this sequential explanatory mixed-methods study (2020-2021), U.S. university student respondents (N = 1030; 603 women [58.5%], 907 [88.1%] aged 18-24 years) completed a quantitative, cross-sectional survey assessing their mental and general health symptoms experienced while taking classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey link was distributed through social media and email invitations. Three separate follow-up focus groups (n = 27), consisting of an average of nine focus group respondents who had completed the quantitative survey per group, were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Focus group respondents provided qualitative responses on their experiences returning to class during COVID-19 and adhering to COVID-19-related policies.
The prevalence of mental health symptoms among survey respondents were 57.6% (n = 593) for depression, 41.5% (n = 427) for anxiety, and 40.8% (n = 420) for stress. Over 90% of respondents reported perceptions of good general health. Female respondents and respondents identified as non-binary gender had an increased risk for mental health symptoms compared to male respondents. Respondents with preexisting medical conditions had an increased risk for worse general health. Themes identified through qualitative analysis included (1) attending class during COVID-19 is associated with unhealthy behaviors, and poor health, (2) perceived challenges of online learning and increased feelings of isolation, (3) demand for COVID-19 policy reform and greater transparency of COVID-19 statistics; (4) difficulties in adhering to COVID-19 policies; and (5) concerns about acquiring and transmitting COVID-19.
Our findings indicate that university students attending classes during the pandemic are experiencing negative mental health impacts. Although students were aware of COVID-19-related policies, many found it challenging to comply. Broad acceptance of COVID-19 policies will require greater transparency and information sharing.</abstract><cop>United States</cop><pub>Public Library of Science</pub><pmid>36595550</pmid><doi>10.1371/journal.pone.0279813</doi><tpages>e0279813</tpages><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0390-801X</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7431-0288</orcidid><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2601-1886</orcidid><oa>free_for_read</oa></addata></record> |
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| language | eng |
| recordid | cdi_plos_journals_2760534615 |
| source | MEDLINE; DOAJ Directory of Open Access Journals; PAIS Index; Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek - Frei zugängliche E-Journals; PubMed Central; Free Full-Text Journals in Chemistry; Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| subjects | Anxiety Biology and Life Sciences Care and treatment College students Colleges & universities Coronaviruses COVID-19 COVID-19 - epidemiology Cross-Sectional Studies Female Focus groups Health aspects Health risks Health Status Humans Information dissemination Male Medicine and Health Sciences Mental depression Mental health Mixed methods research Non-binary gender Pandemics Policies Policy reform Polls & surveys Psychological aspects Qualitative analysis Qualitative research Reforms Research and Analysis Methods Respondents Risk Risk analysis Risk factors Social classes Social media Social networks Social Sciences Statistical analysis Statistics Students Surveys Transparency Universities University students |
| title | A mixed-methods approach to understand university students' perceived impact of returning to class during COVID-19 on their mental and general health |
| url | https://sfx.bib-bvb.de/sfx_tum?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&ctx_tim=2025-02-12T20%3A45%3A27IST&url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_ctx_fmt=infofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rfr_id=info:sid/primo.exlibrisgroup.com:primo3-Article-gale_plos_&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=A%20mixed-methods%20approach%20to%20understand%20university%20students'%20perceived%20impact%20of%20returning%20to%20class%20during%20COVID-19%20on%20their%20mental%20and%20general%20health&rft.jtitle=PloS%20one&rft.au=Ding,%20Qinglan&rft.date=2023-01-03&rft.volume=18&rft.issue=1&rft.spage=e0279813&rft.epage=e0279813&rft.pages=e0279813-e0279813&rft.issn=1932-6203&rft.eissn=1932-6203&rft_id=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0279813&rft_dat=%3Cgale_plos_%3EA732109099%3C/gale_plos_%3E%3Curl%3E%3C/url%3E&disable_directlink=true&sfx.directlink=off&sfx.report_link=0&rft_id=info:oai/&rft_pqid=2760534615&rft_id=info:pmid/36595550&rft_galeid=A732109099&rft_doaj_id=oai_doaj_org_article_1f3f466ea2b3436888a970afc518f58e&rfr_iscdi=true |