COVID-19 Pandemic-Specific PTSD: Risk and Protective Factors Among University Students

Abstract

This study sought to determine risk and protective factors related to COVID-19 pandemic-specific post-traumatic stress disorder in university students. Students at a United States university (N = 769) completed an online survey during fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters. Significant risk factors were poor health, prior trauma, poor family functioning, loneliness, poor sleep quality, COVID anxiety, disengaged coping, depressive symptoms, perceived college risk, perceived job risk, COVID fear, negative religious coping, and engaged coping. Significant protective factors were social connection and social support. Findings help inform about the mental health needs of university students during a pandemic and support services to address these needs.

Keywords:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• risk factor
• protective factor
• university students
• COVID-19 pandemic

Ethical approval

The University and Medical Center Institutional Review Board at East Carolina University approved this study (approval number: UMCIRB 20-001928).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, TF, upon reasonable request.

Note

Notes

1 We recognize that Latinx may not resonate with all participants, and there may be better alternatives; however, Mora and colleagues (2022) note that younger (Millennial and Generation Z) individuals tend to identify more with Latinx. Therefore, we think it is appropriate to use, given that our sample was in this age range (18–26).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Office of Undergraduate Research at East Carolina University under an Undergraduate Research Mini Grant [$1,000].

Notes on contributors

Tatum Feiler

Tatum Feiler is a postbaccalaureate research assistant in the Department of Psychology at East Carolina University. Her research interests include trauma and adversity.

Sarah Vanacore

Sarah Vanacore, MA is a PhD student in clinical health psychology at East Carolina University. She has an MA in English from the University of Pennsylvania and an MA in psychology from Rutgers University-Camden. Her research interests include stress and coping.

Christyn Dolbier

Christyn Dolbier, PhD is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at East Carolina University. Her research focuses on stress, coping, and mental health in emerging adults and mindfulness-based interventions.