Graduate Program

Clinical Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

Spring 2024

Thesis Director

Jerry Zhu

Thesis Committee Member

Wesley D. Allan

Thesis Committee Member

Mariana M. Juras

Abstract

The world became quickly and suddenly consumed by the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020. Topics such as stay-at-home orders, isolation from society, and social distancing became trending discussion themes in news coverage and daily conversations. The present study aimed to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of college students. Specifically, a total of 123 students from a rural Midwest university and an urban Southeast university in the United States participated in an online survey that assessed COVID-19-related vulnerability and resilience factors (e.g., employment status, living situation, religious beliefs, previous diagnosis, and vaccination status of individuals) and mental health symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression, PTSD, sleep and substance use). The results indicated that: (1) there was no significant difference in mental health symptoms among students attending the two rural and urban universities; (2) those college students who had more severe COVID-19 pandemic experiences (e.g., hospitalization due to the COVID-19 pandemic or loss of a loved one) , did not have more mental health symptoms; (3) those with a previous mental diagnosis had more COVID-19 pandemic related mental health symptoms; and (4) those with more certain positive coping skills, including social contracts, daytime structure, and inner resources, were less susceptible to mental health symptoms. Together, the results highlight that prior mental health diagnosis was an important vulnerability factor, whereas positive coping skills during the COVID-19 pandemic was a resilience factor. Future research could investigate a larger or more culturally varied population to enhance the generalizability of findings. The current study also has clinical implications for treating clients for anxiety, stress, depression, or PTSD related to the pandemic.

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