Comparing mental health and well-being of US undergraduate and graduate students during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective: This study explored how COVID-related mental health and well-being varied between undergraduate and graduate students. Relationships with physical health behaviors were also examined. Participants: Undergraduate (n = 897) and graduate (n = 314) students were recruited from three US universities between mid-April and late-May 2020. Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional survey self-reported perceived stress, financial stress, resilience, repetitive negative thinking, mood, anxiety, diet, sleep, and physical activity using validated instruments. Results: Undergraduate students reported more perceived stress, more repetitive negative thinking, less positive mood, and less support from professors than graduate students. Perceived stress, repetitive negative thinking, negative mood, and anxiety increased among all students (p < .05 for all). Correlations between mental health outcomes and physical health behaviors were weak to moderate (r = .08 to .49). Conclusions: College students, particularly undergraduates, perceived negative mental health impacts during COVID. Creative approaches for meeting student needs are necessary.

Keywords:

• College students
• mood
• physical health
• resilience
• stress

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States and received approval from the Institutional Review Boards of Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI), Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, OH), and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Indiana, PA).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (Hatch #1012976), Michigan AgBioResearch, an Indiana University of Pennsylvania Faculty Incidental Research Support Award, and internal funds from Bowling Green State University’s College of Health and Human Services.