Mental health in the short and long-term adaptation processes of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic : a systematic review and meta-analysis
Jimenez-Villamizar, M.P. (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Evolutiva i de l'Educació)
Comendador Vázquez, Laura (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Psiquiatria i de Medicina Legal)
Sanabria-Mazo, Juan P.. (Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalunya))
Mateo Canedo, Corel (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Evolutiva i de l'Educació)
Losilla Vidal, Josep Maria (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Psicobiologia i de Metodologia de les Ciències de la Salut)
Muro Rodríguez, Anna (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Evolutiva i de l'Educació)
Sanz Ruiz, Antoni (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Evolutiva i de l'Educació)

Date:	2025
Description:	27 pàg.
Abstract:	During Covid-19, high prevalence of distress was reported among students, suggesting that they may be at higher risk than the general population of developing psychological disorders in confinement situations. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of four databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science) for articles published from January 2020 to May 2022. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist. Random effects meta-analyses of the reported proportions of college students with clinically significant symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress were carried out, and between-studies heterogeneity was also analysed. Results: 73 studies (N=209. 761) were included for meta-analysis. The estimated proportion of college students with clinically significant short-term symptoms was 34% for anxiety (95% CI [29%,39%]; I2=99. 75%), 38% for depression (95% CI [33%,44%; I2 = 99. 71%), and 54% for stress (95% CI [46%,62%]; I2 = 99. 57%). The estimated proportion of college students with clinically significant long-term symptoms was 37% for anxiety (95% CI [32%,42%]; I2 = 97. 92%), 31% for depression (95% CI [23%,41%]; I2 = 99. 49%) and 41% for stress (95% CI [25%,59%]; I2 = 99. 29%) were found. Several methodological and sociodemographic moderators accounted for heterogeneity in the observed prevalences. Limitations: The heterogeneity of study findings suggest that the results should be interpreted with caution. Conclusion: The current evidence shows that approximately one-third of college students experienced distress, further where we can infer that there was no evidence of a worsening in mental health derived from a cumulative effect during the pandemic.
Grants:	Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2020PANDE00025
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Prepublicació ; recerca ; Versió de l'autor
Subject:	COVID-19 ; University students ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Stress ; Meta-analysis

DOI: 10.1101/2025.03.14.25323978

Preprint 27 p, 2.2 MB

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