Work

Anxiety levels among college students following the sudden transition of prevention and control strategies against COVID-19

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The mental health of college students is a constant concern. After China implemented an open strategy for addressing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in December 2022, college campuses became among the main locations for the rapid spread of the epidemic, which resulted in a serious impact on the mental health of college students. From December 2022 to January 2023, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to evaluate the mental health status of college students in Southwest China in a timely manner and to analyze the influencing factors after the sudden change in prevention and control strategies against COVID-19. The Results revealed that the prevalences of anxiety and event-related psychological distress were 16.08% and 29.14%, respectively. Moderate and severe psychological impacts were reported by 29.1% of the participants. Moderate and moderate to severe psychological anxiety were reported by 10.6% and 3.8% of the participants, respectively. College students who were in poor health, such as those who were suffering from chronic diseases (OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.249 ~ 0.705) and who had incomplete vaccinations (OR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.381 ~ 4.362), were more likely to have anxiety. College students who were older (OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.014 ~ 4.873), who received incomplete vaccinations (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.009 ~ 2.803), and who had low knowledge level of COVID-19 (OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.028 ~ 2.072) were more likely to experience event-related psychological distress. The prolonged COVID-19 epidemic and sudden alterations in prevention and control strategies caused a substantial negative influence on the mental health of college students in China. This study provides insights for the formulation of corresponding psychological intervention measures that could improve the mental health of college students following a sudden change in prevention and control strategies against far-reaching emerging infectious diseases.

Source: Discover Public Health

DOI: 10.1186/s12982-026-03275-1