A repeated cross-sectional survey assessing university students' stress, depression, anxiety, and suicidality in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland

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cris.lastimport.scopus2025-12-08T04:12:52Z
dc.abstract.enBackground The time of widespread outbreaks of infectious diseases can lead to elevated stress and mental health problems among all persons affected, and in particular those sub-groups of the population that are at an increased risk of mental health problems. One such vulnerable group constitutes university students. The aim of this study is to assess stress, depression, anxiety, and suicidality among different groups of university students (medical, psychology, and other). Methods Using a repeated cross-sectional study design, we collected survey data among a large sample of 7228 university students from Poland (mean age = 22.78, s.d. = 4.40; 81% female). Data were collected in five waves, during the first 2 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe (March and April 2020). Results The results demonstrate a significant increase in depression levels as the pandemic was progressing. We also found that female students scored significantly higher than male students on depression, anxiety, and stress. Psychology students recorded the lowest scores on depression and anxiety. Young adult students (aged 18–24 years) had more symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidality than adult students (⩾25 years). Conclusions These results provide insights into stress and mental health among university students during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings can be used for a more effective identification of students who may struggle during next stages of the pandemic and future crises.
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii we Wrocławiu
dc.affiliationInstytut Psychologii
dc.contributor.authorDębowska, Agata
dc.contributor.authorHoreczy, Beata
dc.contributor.authorBoduszek, Daniel
dc.contributor.authorDoliński, Dariusz
dc.date.access2022-11
dc.date.accessioned2024-06-27T09:32:29Z
dc.date.available2024-06-27T09:32:29Z
dc.date.created2020-09-30
dc.date.issued2022-11
dc.description.abstract<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec id="S003329172000392X_sec_a1"><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>The time of widespread outbreaks of infectious diseases can lead to elevated stress and mental health problems among all persons affected, and in particular those sub-groups of the population that are at an increased risk of mental health problems. One such vulnerable group constitutes university students. The aim of this study is to assess stress, depression, anxiety, and suicidality among different groups of university students (medical, psychology, and other).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S003329172000392X_sec_a2" sec-type="methods"><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>Using a repeated cross-sectional study design, we collected survey data among a large sample of 7228 university students from Poland (mean age = 22.78, <jats:sc>s.d.</jats:sc> = 4.40; 81% female). Data were collected in five waves, during the first 2 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe (March and April 2020).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S003329172000392X_sec_a3" sec-type="results"><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>The results demonstrate a significant increase in depression levels as the pandemic was progressing. We also found that female students scored significantly higher than male students on depression, anxiety, and stress. Psychology students recorded the lowest scores on depression and anxiety. Young adult students (aged 18–24 years) had more symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidality than adult students (⩾25 years).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S003329172000392X_sec_a4" sec-type="conclusions"><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>These results provide insights into stress and mental health among university students during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings can be used for a more effective identification of students who may struggle during next stages of the pandemic and future crises.</jats:p></jats:sec>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.issue15
dc.description.physical3744-3747
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume52
dc.identifier.doi10.1017/S003329172000392X
dc.identifier.issn0033-2917
dc.identifier.issn1469-8978
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/759
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/repeated-crosssectional-survey-assessing-university-students-stress-depression-anxiety-and-suicidality-in-the-early-stages-of-the-covid19-pandemic-in-poland/4E23976DA311921641F34001025252AE
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOTHER
dc.subject.enAnxiety
dc.subject.enCOVID-19 pandemic
dc.subject.endepression
dc.subject.enstress
dc.subject.ensuicidality
dc.subject.enuniversity students
dc.swps.sciencecloudnosend
dc.titleA repeated cross-sectional survey assessing university students' stress, depression, anxiety, and suicidality in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
dc.title.journalPsychological Medicine
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle