Effects of COVID-19 Restrictions on University Students Mental Health

Restrictions affecting mental health and wellbeing can significantly affect vulnerable populations that include university students. Therefore, we undertook a scoping review by searching LitCovid, the WHO Covid-19 database, Google Scholar and bibliographies of retrieved articles for systematic reviews that included data on depression and anxiety in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. We found nine systematic reviews (two were preprints) that varied from five included studies to 89. The quality of the short-term evidence was rated low to moderate, and evidence for the medium to long term impact was low (the prevalence estimates may change substantially if further high-quality evidence becomes available).Reviews consistently reported high prevalence rates of anxiety and depression amongst university and college students. Rates of depression and anxiety were higher in those with financial difficulties, in non-Chinese students, in older students and females. In the most extensive review to date the pooled prevalence of depression was 34% (95%CI: 30-38%, 52 studies, n=1,277,755, I2 100%). The prevalence of anxiety was 32% (95% CI: 26-38%, 69 studies I2 100%). Also, anxiety was found at higher rates in older students, in those living alone, and in female students. Only one review concluded the evidence does not suggest a widespread negative effect on mental health in COVID-19 compared with previous years.The overall impact of COVID-19 on the mental health and wellbeing of university students is substantial.AppendicesFull Report - Effects of COVID-19 Restrictions on University Students Mental HealthFiguresFigure 1. PRISMA Flow ChartFigure 2. Included ReviewsFigure 3. Deng 2021 ResultsTablesTable 1. Review Populations and Impacts影响精神健康与福祉的防疫限制措施，会对包括大学生在内的脆弱群体造成显著负面影响。为此，我们开展了一项范围综述（scoping review）：通过检索LitCovid、世界卫生组织（WHO）新冠数据库、谷歌学术以及已检索到的系统综述（systematic review）参考文献列表，收集新冠疫情期间大学生抑郁与焦虑相关数据。 最终纳入9篇系统综述（其中2篇为预印本（preprint）），纳入的研究数量从5项至89项不等。短期证据的质量评级为低至中等，中长期影响相关证据的质量为低（若后续出现高质量研究，患病率估算结果可能发生显著变化）。 各综述均一致报告，高校大学生的焦虑与抑郁患病率居高不下。存在经济困难、非中国籍学生、年长及女性群体的抑郁与焦虑检出率更高。在截至目前规模最大的一项综述中，抑郁的合并患病率为34%（95%CI：30%~38%，纳入52项研究，样本量n=1,277,755，I²=100%）；焦虑的合并患病率为32%（95%CI：26%~38%，纳入69项研究，I²=100%）。此外，年长学生、独居群体及女学生的焦虑检出率更高。仅有1篇综述提出，与往年相比，新冠疫情并未对大学生心理健康造成普遍性负面影响。 新冠疫情对大学生精神健康与福祉的整体影响较为显著。 附录 完整报告：《新冠防疫限制措施对大学生心理健康的影响》 图表 图1. PRISMA流程图 图2. 纳入综述情况 图3. Deng 2021研究结果 表格 表1. 综述研究人群与影响