Post-pandemic student mental health and coping strategies: A time trajectory study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Students are particularly vulnerable to lockdown-related problems associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to investigate mental health (anxiety and depressive symptoms, and wellbeing) during the second year of the pandemic, after three lockdowns, in relation with coping strategies. For this, 380 students participated in a longitudinal study between June and December 2021. At three measurement points (T1: between June 7th and July 14th, 2021; T2: between October 12th and November 14th, 2021; and T3: between December 7th and 20th 2021), participants were asked to complete the same questionnaire measuring mental health and coping strategies for dealing with the pandemic. To highlight longitudinal profiles in coping, we estimate longitudinal cluster analyses. Our results show 5 profiles of students according to the coping strategies used to deal with the pandemic at the three collection times. Students who prefer to use avoidance are particularly vulnerable, while those using coping focused on positive thinking experience fewer anxiety and depressive symptoms and higher wellbeing. • Depressive symptoms fell to a level similar to those observed before the pandemic. • Anxiety symptoms stay similar to those observed during lockdown periods. • Students differ according to 5 coping strategies profiles fairly stable. • Avoidant copers profile reported poorer mental health. • Active copers and positive thinking copers reported better mental health.
Source: Journal of Affective Disorders
Language: English
Topic: COVID-19 and Mental Health
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,790
Funder: Agence Nationale de la Recherche
OpenAlex ID: W4407264137