Psychological Distress among Italian University Students Compared to General Workers during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Bibliographic Data

ID15470538
AuthorsAnnunziata Romeo (0000-0001-5970-0755, University of Turin), Agata Benfante (0000-0003-1275-2595, University of Turin, corresponding author), Lorys Castelli (0000-0001-5009-2271, University of Turin), Marialaura Di Tella (0000-0003-3616-2434, University of Turin)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue5
Pages2503-2503
Publication date2021-03-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph18052503
PMID33802514
OpenAlexW3134576682
LanguageEN
Citations received21
References cited27

The COVID-19 pandemic induced numerous changes in the daily life of every individual, with important social, economic, and psychological consequences. Particularly, the psychological impact encountered among students might be affected by social isolation, concern for personal health and for the health of family members and friends, and uncertainty about academic progress. The present study aimed to investigate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on Italian university students compared to general workers. The responses of 956 participants (478 university students and 478 workers) were included in the final dataset. Participants were asked to provide sociodemographic and occupation-related information, and to complete: (1) COVID-19-related questions; (2) health-related visual analogue scales; (3) State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Form Y1 (STAI Y1); and (4) the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Results of comparisons between university students and general workers revealed that the former reported higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, regression analyses showed that in university students, gender, health evaluation, and health concern and gender, educational level, and health evaluation significantly predicted anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively. Taken together these findings suggest that specific factors could predispose University students to a high risk of developing mental health symptoms as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic

Anxiety · Beck Depression Inventory · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Depression (economics · Disease · Distress · General Health Questionnaire · Mental health · Pandemic · Psychiatry · Social isolation · State-Trait Anxiety Inventory · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 · Medicine · Psychology

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