Coping during COVID-19: examining student stress and depressive symptoms

Abstract

Objective: College students have faced widespread changes and challenges as a result of the novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. How students cope with these disruptions is important in determining the ongoing impacts of the pandemic on mental health and well-being. We evaluated the associations between COVID-19 stress, coping responses, and symptoms of depression. Participants: A sample of 131 students (106 female; 25 male) was recruited throughout May 2020. Methods: Participants completed online self-report measures of study constructs. Results: As predicted, students experiencing more stress related to COVID-19 endorsed more symptoms of depression. Student stress was also associated with less use of engagement coping responses. Primary engagement and secondary engagement coping responses mediated the relationship between COVID-19 stress and symptoms of depression. Conclusions: Students lacking in adaptive, engagement coping responses may be particularly at risk for psychopathology when faced with high levels of stress related to COVID-19.

Keywords:

• Coping
• coronavirus
• COVID-19
• depression
• stress

Disclosure statement

Dr. Aislin Mushquash has nothing to disclose. Miss. Elizabeth Grassia has nothing to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was provided through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (subgrant agreement between Lakehead University and McMaster University; TE3-138302).