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Van de Velde S, Buffel V, van der Heijde C, Çoksan S, Bracke P, Abel T, Busse H, Zeeb H, Rabiee-khan F, Stathopoulou T, Van Hal G, Ladner J, Tavolacci M, Tholen R, Wouters E. Depressive symptoms in higher education students during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. An examination of the association with various social risk factors across multiple high- and middle-income countries. SSM Popul Health 2021; 16:100936. [PMID: 34611543 PMCID: PMC8484180 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Higher-education students face substantial risks for developing depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic or experiencing exacerbated pre-existing depressive symptoms. This study uses data from the COVID-19 International Student Well-Being Study, which collected data through a non-representative convenience sample in 125 higher-education institutions (HEI) across 26 high- and middle-income countries (N: 20,103) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. It describes the prevalence of depressive symptoms in higher-education students. We find substantial cross-national variation in depressive symptoms, with lowest mean levels established in the Nordic countries and France, while highest mean levels of depressive symptoms were found in Turkey, South Africa, Spain and the USA. Elevated risk for depressive symptoms was found in female students, students with fewer social support resources and in a more disadvantaged socioeconomic position, and students with a migrant background. COVID-19 related stressors, such as reduced social contact, increased financial insecurity, and academic stress explained a relatively larger proportion of the variance in depressive symptoms compared to non-COVID-19 related stressors. This finding shows that not the pandemic itself, but rather the secondary effects of the pandemic relate to students' mental health. Our results enable HEIs to be better equipped to target groups that are particularly at risk during a pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Van de Velde
- Centre for Population, Family and Health, Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobsstraat 2-4, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - V. Buffel
- Centre for Population, Family and Health, Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobsstraat 2-4, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | | | - S. Çoksan
- Department of Psychology, Middle East Technical University, Üniversiteler Mahallesi, Dumlupınar Bulvarı No:1, 06800, Çankaya/Ankara, Turkey
| | - P. Bracke
- Health & Demographic Research, Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Korte Meer 5, 9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - T. Abel
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universität Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - H. Busse
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - H. Zeeb
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, Bibliotheksstr, 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - F. Rabiee-khan
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Education & Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Westbourne Road, Birmingham, B15 3TN, UK
| | - T. Stathopoulou
- National Centre for Social Research, 9 Kratinou & Athinas St., 10552, Athens, Greece
| | - G. Van Hal
- Department of Social Epidemiology and Health Policy, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - J. Ladner
- Clinical Investigation Center, CHU Rouen, U 1073, Normandie University, F 76000 Rouen, France
| | - M. Tavolacci
- Clinical Investigation Center, CHU Rouen, U 1073, Normandie University, F 76000 Rouen, France
| | - R. Tholen
- Centre for Population, Family and Health, Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobsstraat 2-4, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - E. Wouters
- Centre for Population, Family and Health, Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobsstraat 2-4, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - for the C19 ISWS consortium
- Centre for Population, Family and Health, Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobsstraat 2-4, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Student Health Services, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Middle East Technical University, Üniversiteler Mahallesi, Dumlupınar Bulvarı No:1, 06800, Çankaya/Ankara, Turkey
- Health & Demographic Research, Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Korte Meer 5, 9000, Gent, Belgium
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universität Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Education & Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Westbourne Road, Birmingham, B15 3TN, UK
- National Centre for Social Research, 9 Kratinou & Athinas St., 10552, Athens, Greece
- Department of Social Epidemiology and Health Policy, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
- Clinical Investigation Center, CHU Rouen, U 1073, Normandie University, F 76000 Rouen, France
- Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, Bibliotheksstr, 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
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