Women tend to take the role of caregiver in the home. During covid, that means that the women who are at home are expected to complete schooling, jobs and caring. The caring aspect is exasurbated by the closing of most childcare areas. Women during COVID are seen as having 'flexible' work that can be done throughout the day. The flexibility is restricted just to women, which makes it hard for men to have the same flexibility. This further pushes the expectation of caregiving to women. 

South african students are expected to care for their younger siblings and elderly family members, further stressing the students. Similar observations of higher stress levels within women, who are generally caregivers, have been observed in Austrailia and Turkey.

Caring Responsibilities during COVID for women students

Grinnell College

The pandemic led to the social isolation and other triggers of many students which may have had effects on their mental health. 

The Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Students Mental Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes for undergraduate students, especially when it comes to the negative repercussions on their mental health. This study seeks to explore the experience of stress, anxiety, and depression among undergraduate students in a university in Kentucky during an early phase of the pandemic. Results concluded that 88% of students surveyed experienced moderate to severe stress, 44% experienced moderate to severe anxiety, and 36% experienced moderate to severe depression. This study also identified high-risk populations, as well as how often students utilized the mental health services provided by their university.

Stress, anxiety, and depression among undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic and their use of mental health services.

This study was designed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the daily living, mental well-being, and experiences of racial discrimination among college students from communities of color. Findings suggested that students of color experienced elevated disruption on finances, living situations, academic performance, educational plans, and career goals. The findings also suggest that the primary mental health challenges on these students included stress, anxiety, and depression, especially due to the increased amount of racially-motivated violence against the Black and Asian American communities. The study indicates that higher education institutions would greatly benefit from financially and emotionally supporting students of color during the pandemic.

The impact of COVID-19 on college students from communities of color

LGBTQ people tend to have higher risk for mental health issues, in part due to family and social situations. Nearly half of queer students have immediate family members that are unsupportive of their identity or who the student feels uncomfortable coming out to. Aproximately 60% of queer college students experience psychological distress, anxiety and depression throughout the course of the pandemic.

COVID-19 pandemic on LGBTQ students' mental health

College students show a very high prevalence of mental disorders and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and low rates of treatment uptake. This study aims to assess treatment access, intentions to seek help, and perceived barriers to help-seeking. Results show that receipt of treatment was low, particularly among names and those with no STBs (suicidal thoughts and behaviors), and men were less likely to intend to access external professional services and were more likely than females to rate embarrassment or worry about being treated differently as important reasons for not seeking treatment.

Readiness to change the barriers to treatment seeking in college students with a mental disorder

- Trauma and Loss
- job insecurity
- food insecurity
- esclation of domestic violence
- exasurbation of pre-morbid conditions
- disrupted social support systems
- uncertainty

Types Stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic

Student mental heath during the COVID-19 pademic by country

Gender differences on the effects of COVID-19 on student mental health

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant, sustained, and continuing stresses on the socio-psychology of societies and has led to the development of depression, anxiety and PTSD, particularly on college-age populations. This study aimed to assess the psychosocial effects and coping strategies of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results suggested that students reported increased degrees of depression, anxiety, and stress, and dysfunctional coping strategies were less utilized than problem-focused coping strategies.

University students under lockdown, the psychosocial effects and coping strategies during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross sectional study in Egypt

Using a global survey answered by 30,383 higher education students from 62 countries, researchers in this study measured the impacts the COVID 19 pandemic has had on student’s lives. 

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