COVID-19 pandemic effects on college student mental health: A cross-sectional cohort comparison study

Objective: Evaluate COVID-19 pandemic impacts on college student mental health. Participants: Three cohorts of college students (2018 n = 466; 2019 n = 459; 2020, n = 563; N = 1488) from three American universities. Participants were 71.4% female, 67.5% White, and 85.9% first-year students. Methods: Multivariable regression models and bivariate correlations were used to compare anxiety, depression, well-being, and search for meaning before and during the pandemic, and the relationships between pandemic health-compliance behaviors and mental health. Results: Anxiety, depression, and well-being did not significantly worsen during compared to before (2019) the pandemic (ps =.329–.837). During the pandemic, more frequent in-person social interactions were correlated with lower anxiety (r = –0.17, p <.001) and depressive symptoms (r=-0.12, p =.008), and higher well-being (r = 0.16, p <.001), but also less handwashing (r = –0.11, p =.016) and face mask-wearing (r = –0.12, p =.008). Conclusions: We observed little evidence for pandemic impacts on college student mental health. Lower compliance with pandemic health guidelines was associated with better mental health.