600 students completed the COVID survey at the end of the semester (88.9% of the students who took the survey at the beginning of the spring semester). 

•68.4% of students did not feel confident about the government response to COVID. Older first year students and students in the wellness program were more likely to feel confident. 

•86.3% felt hopeful for the resolution of COVID. This did not seem to differ between gender, ethnicity, SSS, or involvement in the wellness program.

•95.8% of students reported that they follow the government rules and suggestions regarding the pandemic. Female students were more likely to report compliance compared to male students (96.5% vs. 93.3%) 

•75.2% felt these rules and suggestions were easy to follow. There did not seem to be any difference in these responses between gender, ethnicity, SSS, or membership in the wellness program. 

•23.8% had people in their lives who have had COVID, and 2.4% knew someone who had died of COVID. The likelihood did not differ between identities or groups of students.

•With a 10-point scale measuring how disruptive students felt COVID has been on their lives (from not disruptive to extremely disruptive), there was a mean of 7.8, and 87.3% rated a 6 or higher. The reported level of disruption was higher for younger first year students and students who weren’t involved in the wellness program.


COVID-19 on College Student Mental Health and Wellness: COVID Survey Results 

Out of the 675 students who completed the Brief Problem Monitor at the start of the spring semester, 576 completed this same assessment at the end of the semester as well. From the start to the end of the spring semester, there were slight improvements regarding internalizing symptoms, but a worsening of externalizing and attention problems. While there were no differences between age, gender, ethnicity, or SSS, students involved in the wellness program showed improvements in internalizing symptoms as well as less detriment to externalizing or attention problems. In addition, students who reported greater disruption in their lives caused by COVID showed greater internalizing symptoms.

COVID-19 on College Student Mental Health and Wellness: Changes in Emotional and Behavioral Functioning 

-The line in the figure located below represents spring break, which is when students were told in person classes would not be held for the rest of the semester. In the two to three weeks following spring break, student mood and wellness decreased. These levels then become steady through the rest of the semester. 

-Student responses to the wellness assessment indicated a decrease in their amount of exercise, nutrition, sleep, water intake, and an increase in the time spent watching screens, thus accounting for the wellness decrease seen in the figure. Researchers wondered whether this decrease in mood and wellness was typical for students each year. However, when looking at survey data from the year 2018, it seems that these items typically increase after spring break rather than decrease.

-There did not seem to be a change of pattern in the level of stress students experienced before and after the onset of COVID. This is because student stress levels appear to vary throughout the semester. 

-The decrease in mood seemed to be greater for the female students compared to the males. Those who were not members in the wellness program also showed a greater decrease in mood compared to those who were members.


COVID-19 on College Student Mental Health and Wellness: Changes in Daily Mood, Stress, and Wellness 

•COVID Survey Results

•Changes in Emotional and Behavioral Functioning

•Changes in Daily Mood, Stress, and Wellness


Michigan State University

The University of Vermont was conducting a study on student emotional health and wellness prior to the COVID-19 shutdown. This allowed for an investigation in which comparisons could be made between students’ mental health and wellness prior to and after COVID’s onset. The findings of this study suggest the COVID pandemic has an impact on student mood and wellness.

Study on the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on College Student Mental Health and Wellness; Vermont, United States

Copeland WE, McGinnis E, Bai Y, Adams Z, Nardone H, Devadanam V, Rettew J, Hudziak JJ. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on College Student Mental Health and Wellness. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2021 Jan;60(1):134-141.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2020.08.466. Epub 2020 Oct 19. PMID: 33091568.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on College Student Mental Health and Wellness Reference

- COVID Survey

- In-Depth Assessments

- Ecological Momentary Assessments

COVID-19 on College Student Mental Health and Wellness: Assessment Details

The University of Vermont was already conducting an ongoing study on emotional health and wellness. To investigate COVID’s impact on student’s mental health, a smaller sample of students were selected from the larger study. Eligible participants were full time undergraduate first year students between the ages of 18 and 25. For app compatibility, these participants also needed to have an iPhone 5 or newer. 675 students took a full behavior and emotion assessment at the start of the 2020 spring semester. 576 of these students also took the assessment at the end of the semester in which COVID’s onset had already occurred. 600 students also took a survey in which they answered at least one item, and 485 students regularly answered nightly surveys relating to mood and wellness behaviors throughout the semester (both before and after COVID’s onset). 67% on these students were also members of the university’s Wellness Environment program which supports healthy behaviors and student’s transition to college. In this program, students are not allowed to have alcohol or drugs in their dorms.

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