# Breakdown of COVID effects on students’ mental health at the beginning of the pandemic

## TL;DR

This study examines how the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic affected students' mental health, revealing differences based on factors like student background, gender, field of study, and age.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a combined analysis of categorical and text-based survey data to uncover nuanced mental health impacts of the pandemic across student subgroups.

## Key findings

- First-generation students reported being less affected by the pandemic compared to non-first-generation students.
- Female students were more likely to report depression, anxiety, and home-related mental health struggles than male students.
- Age-based differences showed younger students faced home-related challenges, while older students reported stress and depression.

## Abstract

Students at a large mid-Atlantic university were surveyed during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic to assess its impact on their mental health. This study implements a combined analysis of categorical and text-based survey data using chi-squared tests and correspondence analysis to examine subgroup differences in the mental health impacts of the pandemic. When examining different subgroups, it was observed that first-generation students, who often cited stress and lack of motivation, reported being less affected by the pandemic compared to non-first generation students. The latter group more frequently mentioned experiencing depression, anxiety, isolation, challenges at home, lack of routine, and other mental health concerns. Additionally, female students appeared to be more impacted than male students, with female respondents highlighting issues of depression, lack of motivation and routines, anxiety, and other home-related mental health struggles. While other student subgroups were similarly affected, differences emerged in the specific ways they were impacted. STEM students were more likely to cite challenges with home life, feelings of isolation, and negative emotions, whereas non-STEM students more frequently reported depression, anxiety, and stress. Graduate students tended to describe the effects of COVID-19 in terms of depression, stress, and disrupted routines, while undergraduates were more likely to mention isolation, negative emotions, and challenges at home. Finally, age-based differences were also evident: younger students (18–20 years old) often cited home-related challenges, students aged 21–24 mentioned anxiety, lack of routine, and other mental health struggles, and the oldest group (25+ years) most frequently referenced stress and depression as consequences of the pandemic.