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We examined longitudinal patterns, time-varying predictors, and contemporaneous correlates of moderate-severe psychological distress MS-PD among college students. In this sample, MS-PD prevalence was high, persistent, and associated with financial, behavioral, structural, experiential, and intra- and inter-personal factors. The United States is in the midst of a youth mental health crisis 1.
In some people, PD may be indicative of major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, somatization disorder, or a variety of other clinical conditions. In this unique population, negative mental health outcomes are consistently higher among cisgender women than men Individuals from gender minority groups also consistently report poorer mental health outcomes than their cisgender counterparts Between and , major depressive episodes among adolescent girls approximately doubled Corroborating our findings, international cohorts of university students have also identified social support, living situation, loneliness, food insecurity, and financial insecurity as key factors associated with PD during the pandemic 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , Evolution of environmental, circumstantial, behavioral, and interpersonal conditions over time can lead to changes in mental health 25 , The COVID pandemic was similarly dynamic, ever-changing with scientific advances, governmental and institutional directives, pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions, seasonal and variant-fueled waves, and regional variability in epidemiologic trends and pandemic control activities To achieve this goal, we performed longitudinal analyses to elucidate predictors and trajectories of MS-PD among students enrolled at a NYC college.
We conducted a longitudinal study to observe the prospective effects of the COVID pandemic on the health and wellness of students, faculty, and staff affiliated with a NYC residential college. Eligible participants provided written informed consent.
Enrolled participants answered sociodemographic and physical, social, and psychological well-being questions via web-based, self-administered questionnaires managed by Research Electronic Data Capture REDCap We limited this analysis to students given our focus on youth.
