Effects of COVID-19 contagion in cohabitants and family members on mental health and academic self-efficacy among university students in Sweden: a prospective longitudinal study

TL;DR

This study explores how having family members or cohabitants with mild COVID-19 symptoms affected university students' mental health and confidence in their academic abilities over time.

Contribution

The study provides longitudinal evidence linking mild contagion in cohabitants and family members to negative mental health and academic self-efficacy outcomes in university students.

Findings

Mild symptoms in cohabitants at baseline led to worse mental health in students after 5 months.

Mild symptoms in family members at baseline reduced academic self-efficacy in students at both 5 and 10 month follow-ups.

The findings highlight the importance of social relationships in student well-being during crises.

Abstract

This study used causal inference to estimate the longitudinal effects of contagion in cohabitants and family members on university students’ mental health and academic self-efficacy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A prospective longitudinal study including a baseline online measurement in May 2020, and online follow-ups after 5 months and 10 months. Participants were recruited through open-access online advertising.

Public universities and university colleges in Sweden.

The analytical sample included 2796 students.

Contagion in cohabitants and in family members was assessed at baseline and at the 5-month follow-up. Mental health and academic self-efficacy were assessed at the 5-month and 10-month follow-ups.

Mild symptoms reported in cohabitants at baseline resulted in negative mental health effects at follow-up 5 months later, and mild baseline symptoms in family members resulted in negative effects on academic self-efficacy at follow-ups both 5 and 10 months later.

Notwithstanding the lack of precision in estimated effects, the findings emphasise the importance of social relationships and the challenges of providing students with sufficient support in times of crisis.

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