The Psychological, Academic, and Economic Impact of COVID-19 on College Students in the Epicenter of the Pandemic

Jazmin A. Reyes-Portillo, Carrie Masia Warner, Emily A. Kline, Michael T. Bixter, Brian C. Chu, Regina Miranda, Erum Nadeem, Amanda Nickerson, Ana Ortin Peralta, Laura Reigada, Shireen L. Rizvi, Amy K. Roy, Jess Shatkin, Emily Kalver, Danielle Rette, Ellen Ge Denton, Elizabeth L. Jeglic

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

48 Scopus citations

Abstract

Initial research has indicated that college students have experienced numerous stressors as a result of the pandemic. The current investigation enrolled the largest and most diverse sample of college students to date (N = 4714) from universities in New York (NY) and New Jersey (NJ), the epicenter of the North American pandemic in Spring 2020. We described the impact on the psychological, academic, and financial health of college students who were initially most affected and examined racial/ethnic group differences. Results indicated that students’ mental health was severely affected and that students of color were disproportionately affected by academic, financial, and COVID-related stressors. Worry about COVID-19 infection, stressful living conditions, lower grades, and loneliness emerged as correlates of deteriorating mental health. COVID-19’s mental health impact on college students is alarming and highlights the need for public health interventions at the university level.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)473-490
Number of pages18
JournalEmerging Adulthood
Volume10
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2022

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • college students
  • ethnicity
  • mental health
  • minorities
  • race

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