Class
Article
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department
English Department
Faculty Mentor
Crissa Levin
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract
In April 2020, we examined the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on undergraduates, mental health distress, and decreases in grades during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic via a national online survey. The current study is a follow-up to this survey a year later in April 2021. Undergraduate students were recruited for a survey both years (two independent random samples) via instructor announcements, email, listserv, or social media. In spring 2020, higher depressive symptoms, general anxiety, and academic distress were associated with a reported decline in grades. Perceived grade declines were also correlated with higher financial concerns and risk for COVID-19 complications or infection. In spring 2021, anxiety, depression, academic distress, financial concern, and high risk for COVID-19 complications were all still related to decreases in grades. Having COVID-19 during the semester, was no longer significant in 2021. Students who worked and worked more hours had significantly decreased grades in 2021, which we did not find in 2020 likely because many people were not working due to shutdowns in April 2020. Questions regarding isolation and loss of closeness with friends and family due to differing safety beliefs during that pandemic were added to the survey in 2021. Students in our 2021 sample felt isolated from others a least half the time during spring 2021 and 58% felt at least a 50% loss of closeness with friends and family due to differing safety beliefs. Grades decreased by one letter grade in 2020 and by .64 of a letter grade in 2021. Although there is improvement in academic outcomes, Student mental health is still at extreme levels. In 2020 11% of our sample had elevated depression, and in 2021 35% had elevated depression. Anxiety and academic distress decreased slightly from 2020 but were still extremely elevated in 2021. It is imperative for universities and colleges to provide additional support for students and their mental health and address barriers such as wait times, mental health outreach, training, and stigma.
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-9-2022 12:00 AM
Included in
How is COVID-19 Impacting Student Mental Health and Academic Outcomes a Year Later: A Follow Up Study
Logan, UT
In April 2020, we examined the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on undergraduates, mental health distress, and decreases in grades during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic via a national online survey. The current study is a follow-up to this survey a year later in April 2021. Undergraduate students were recruited for a survey both years (two independent random samples) via instructor announcements, email, listserv, or social media. In spring 2020, higher depressive symptoms, general anxiety, and academic distress were associated with a reported decline in grades. Perceived grade declines were also correlated with higher financial concerns and risk for COVID-19 complications or infection. In spring 2021, anxiety, depression, academic distress, financial concern, and high risk for COVID-19 complications were all still related to decreases in grades. Having COVID-19 during the semester, was no longer significant in 2021. Students who worked and worked more hours had significantly decreased grades in 2021, which we did not find in 2020 likely because many people were not working due to shutdowns in April 2020. Questions regarding isolation and loss of closeness with friends and family due to differing safety beliefs during that pandemic were added to the survey in 2021. Students in our 2021 sample felt isolated from others a least half the time during spring 2021 and 58% felt at least a 50% loss of closeness with friends and family due to differing safety beliefs. Grades decreased by one letter grade in 2020 and by .64 of a letter grade in 2021. Although there is improvement in academic outcomes, Student mental health is still at extreme levels. In 2020 11% of our sample had elevated depression, and in 2021 35% had elevated depression. Anxiety and academic distress decreased slightly from 2020 but were still extremely elevated in 2021. It is imperative for universities and colleges to provide additional support for students and their mental health and address barriers such as wait times, mental health outreach, training, and stigma.