The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emerging adults is of global concern. We examine changes in depressive symptoms, physical symptoms, and sleep-wake problems from before to during the pandemic among college students, and examine inequalities by gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and race (N=263, 52% Black, 48% White, 53% female). As compared to pre-pandemic levels, increases were evident in depressive symptoms, physical symptoms, and sleep problems. Females had greater increases than males in depressive symptoms, sleep problems, and physical symptoms. Students from disadvantaged SES backgrounds had greater increases in physical symptoms. Among White students, those from disadvantaged backgrounds also had greater increases in sleep problems. Lastly, daytime sleepiness increased more among Black male than White male students. Overall, findings suggest notable shifts in sleep and health during the early phase of the pandemic among emerging adults, and that attention to inequality by gender, SES, and race is warranted.
Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; emerging adult development; health disparities; physical symptoms; psychological stress; sex differences; sleep-wake problems; socioeconomic status inequality.