Anxiety, Depression, and Satisfaction With Life Among College Students in China: Nine Months After Initiation of the Outbreak of COVID-19

Pei Xiao; Liang Chen; Xiaoqin Dong; Zhiya Zhao; Jincong Yu; Dongming Wang; Wenzhen Li

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.777190

Anxiety, Depression, and Satisfaction With Life Among College Students in China: Nine Months After Initiation of the Outbreak of COVID-19

Front Psychiatry. 2022 Jan 18:12:777190. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.777190. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Pei Xiao¹, Liang Chen², Xiaoqin Dong³, Zhiya Zhao⁴, Jincong Yu⁵, Dongming Wang^{6

7}, Wenzhen Li⁴

Affiliations

¹ Center for Non-communicable Disease Management, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
² Department of the Prevention and Treatment of Leprosy, Wuhan Institute of Dermatology and Venereology, Wuhan, China.
³ Wuhan Emergency Medical Center, Wuhan, China.
⁴ Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
⁵ Education and Counseling Center for Psychological Health, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, China.
⁶ Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
⁷ Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

Abstract

Background/objective: Mental health problems are common among college students. This study sought to assess the prevalence and risk factors of depressive and anxiety symptoms and well-being among Chinese college students 9 months after initiation of the outbreak of COVID-19.

Method: A cross-sectional study (N = 3,951, mean age = 19.58) was conducted from October to December 2020. An online survey was used to collect socio-demographic data, and the symptoms of depression and anxiety and satisfaction with life using Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-Item Scale (PHQ-9), and the 5-items Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS).

Results: The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms was 59.35 and 54.34%, respectively, and the score of satisfaction with life was 20.51 ± 6.42 among Chinese college students during the pandemic. After controlling for covariates, students in urban areas (AOR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.61-0.87), with good family economic levels (AOR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.66-0.91), and having psychological counseling (AOR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.42-0.73) were positively associated with depression symptoms; meanwhile, higher anxiety symptoms were observed among medical students (AOR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.69-0.95). Besides, healthy lifestyle such as regular physical activity and diet was associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. Multiple linear models revealed that medical students (β = 0.479, P = 0.031), those with good family economic level by self-evaluation (β = 1.283, P < 0.001 for good; β = 3.013, P < 0.001 for general), good academic performance by self-evaluation (β = 1.786, P < 0.001 for good; β = 3.386, P < 0.001 for general), learning burden (β = 1.607, P < 0.001 for general; β = 2.117, P < 0.001 for light), regular physical activity (β = 0.859, P < 0.001), daily routine (β = 1.289, P < 0.001), diet (β = 1.714, P < 0.001), and sufficient sleep (β = 1.408, P < 0.001) had more score of SWLS (all β > 0, P < 0.05), while senior students (β = -1.053, P=0.009), students having psychological counseling (β = -1.753, P < 0.001), and drinking (β = -0.743, P = 0.012) had lower satisfaction with life.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that more attention should be paid to psychological health among college students, especially during and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Policy makers and educators should help college students develop a healthy lifestyle with regular diet and exercise to promote the psychological health of college students.

Keywords: adolescent psychology; anxiety; depression; epidemiology; satisfaction with life.