THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON COLLEGE STUDENT WELL-BEING - Healthy ...
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THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON COLLEGE STUDENT WELL-BEING
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON
COLLEGE STUDENT WELL-BEING
The Healthy Minds Network, which runs the Healthy Minds Study (HMS), in collaboration with the
American College Health Association, which runs the National College Health Assessment (ACHA-
NCHA), developed a new set of survey items related to students’ experiences with the COVID-19
pandemic. The new items focused on students’ attitudes, concerns, preventive behaviors, and their
perceived supportiveness of colleges and universities related to COVID-19. These items were fielded
to random samples of college students on participating campuses across the United States between
March and May 2020.
This brief data report presents results from 18,764 students on 14 campuses that participated in the
surveys from late March through May 2020. The report is organized as follows:
Summary
Campus and student characteristics (Table 1)
COVID-19 prevalence and susceptibility (Figures 1-2)
Students’ concerns related to the pandemic (Figure 3)
Non-health impacts of COVID-19 (Figures 4-7)
Hygiene and physical distancing behaviors among students (Figure 8)
Trusted sources of information (Figure 9)
Supportiveness of campus response (Figure 10)
Mental health and substance use pre/post pandemic (Figure 11)
Notes: Response rates are a key limitation. For HMS, the overall response rate from March-May 2020 was 10.3%,
significantly lower than in previous semesters. Similarly, for ACHA-NCHA, the overall response rate from March-May
2020 was 9.3%. We used data for each participating institution on the proportion of male/female students and used these
to create sample weights that account for the sex distribution in the full campus population. The weighted estimates are
representative of the full student population in terms of the sex variable available for each institution. We gave the same
aggregate weight to each institution in the sample to ensure that larger campuses were not overrepresented in the results.
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON COLLEGE STUDENT WELL-BEING Page 1
Summary
– Financial stress, a known predictor of student mental health, has been significantly affected by the pandemic:
two-thirds of students report their financial situation has become more stressful. Roughly one-third of
students report that their living situation changed as a result of the pandemic.
– Fifteen percent report a probable case of COVID-19, though less than 1% were confirmed by a test. Sixty
percent perceive themselves to be susceptible to contracting the virus. Students are concerned about their
personal safety and security, but even more so about people they care about contracting the virus. Students
also express high levels of concern about how long the pandemic will last.
– The majority of students report following public health guidelines for handwashing (60%) and physical
distancing (70%). Eighty-four percent of students report public health agencies are among their most trusted
sources of information about the pandemic.
– Forty percent of students report witnessing race-based discrimination either in person or online.
– Students report that their campuses have generally been supportive, especially professors.
– Sixty percent of students indicate that the pandemic has made it more difficult to access mental health care.
– Symptoms of mental health conditions remain high in college student populations, both before and after
the start of the pandemic. Relative to fall 2019, the prevalence of depression increased and substance use
decreased in spring 2020. In March through May 2020, a higher proportion of students report that their
mental health negatively impacted their academic performance. While students report lower levels of
psychological wellbeing post-pandemic relative to Fall 2019, they also reported higher levels of resiliency.
Campus and Student Characteristics
A total of 14 colleges and universities participated in the two studies between March and May 2020: 7 for HMS
and 7 for ACHA-NCHA. The characteristics of these institutions and their students are presented in Table 1
overall and for HMS and ACHA-NCHA separately.
Table 1a: Overall HMS ACHA-NCHA
Campus Characteristics (N=14 campuses) (N=7 campuses) (N=7 campuses)
Institutional size: >20,000 9 6 3
Institutional size: 10-19,999 4 1 3
Institutional size: 5-9,999 0 0 0
Institutional size: 2,500-4,999 0 0 0
Institutional size:Summary (continued)
Table 1b: Overall HMS ACHA-NCHA
Student Characteristics (N=18,764 students) (N=12,033 students) (N=6731 students)
Age 18-24 68.6% 69.2% 67.9%
Undergraduate 70.4% 66.4% 74.6%
Gender identity: female 52.3% 51.2% 52.9%
Gender identity: male 44.9% 46.8% 42.7%
Gender identity: transgender/gender
2.7% 2.0% 3.5%
nonconforming/self-identified gender
Race/ethnicity: Black 7.9% 9.3% 6.5%
Race/ethnicity: Latinx 13.3% 16.7% 10.0%
Race/ethnicity: Asian 16.7% 20.8% 12.7%
Race/ethnicity: Middle Eastern/Arab/
2.2% 2.8% 1.7%
Arab American
Race/ethnicity: White 64.2% 57.3% 71.2%
Race/ethnicity: Other 6.2% 1.4% 8.8%
International student 10.2% 11.7% 9.0%
Notes: For HMS, “other” race includes American Indian or Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and those who
selected self-identified race/ethnicity. For NCHA, “other” race includes bi/multiracial, Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander, and
American Indian/Native Alaskan.
COVID-19 Prevalence
Less than 1% of students report having a confirmed case of COVID-19. Among those with a confirmed or
probable case, 5.5% reported their symptoms as severe, 35.1% as moderate, 55.3% as mild, and 4.1% as
asymptomatic.
Figure 1. Have you had COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus disease)?
100
84.7
80
60
40
20 13
0.6 1.7
0
Yes, confirmed by test Probably (healthcare Maybe (had symptoms No (no symptoms or other
provider told me I likely consistent with COVID-19, reason to think I have had
had COVID-19, but not but not confirmed by test) it)
confirmed by test)
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON COLLEGE STUDENT WELL-BEING Page 3Perceived Susceptibility
Sixty percent of students with no prior symptoms of COVID-19 consider it very likely, likely, or somewhat likely
that they will be infected.
Figure 2. How likely do you think it is that you will
develop COVID-19?
2.7
8.4
Very likely
40.3
Likely
Somewhat likely
Not at all likely
48.6
Concerns about the Future
Sixty-five percent of students report being very or extremely concerned about how long the pandemic will last,
while 64% report being very or extremely concerned about people they care about contracting COVID-19.
Eighty-six percent report concerns about their personal safety and security.
Figure 3a. Over the past 2 weeks, on average, how much have you
been concerned with the following?
100
80
64.8 64.4
60 52.9
42.4
40 32 33.3
20
3.2 4.7 2.5
0
How long the pandemic will last How many more people wiill People you care about contracting
become infected COVID-19
Not at all Slightly/moderately Very/extremely
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON COLLEGE STUDENT WELL-BEING Page 4Concerns about the Future (continued)
Figure 3b. Over the past 2 weeks, on average, how much have you
been concerned with the following?
100
80
57.4
60 53.1
40 33.3
25.8
13.5 16.9
20
0
Your personal sense of safety and security Personally contracting COVID-19
Not at all Slightly/moderately Very/extremely
Financial Effects
Sixty-six percent report that the pandemic has resulted in more financial stress.
Figure 4. How has your financial situation been affected
by the COVID-19 pandemic?
100
80
60
39.6
40 29.2
26.4
20
4.8
0
A lot more stressful Somewhat more No significant change Less stressful
stressful
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON COLLEGE STUDENT WELL-BEING Page 5Housing Stability
Thirty-six percent of students report moving to a new living situation as a result of the pandemic.
Figure 5. Have you moved to a new living situation as a
result of the COVID-19 pandemic?
100
80
64.3
60
40 35.7
20
0
Yes No
Mental Health Care
Sixty percent of students indicate that the pandemic has made it more difficult to access mental health care.
Figure 6. How has your access to mental health care been affected by
the COVID-19 pandemic?
100
80
60
36.8 34.9
40
23.3
20
5.1
0
Much more difficult Somewhat more difficult No significant change in Less difficult
access
Notes: Overall, 58.2% of students indicated that they have not tried to access mental health care. Figure 6 presents data from
the 41.8% of students who did attempt to seek care.
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON COLLEGE STUDENT WELL-BEING Page 6Discrimination
Six percent report experiencing race-based discrimination as a result of the pandemic, while 41% report
witnessing race-based discrimination (online or in person).
Figure 7a. As a result of the pandemic, Figure 7b. As a result of the pandemic,
have you experienced any discriminatory have you witnessed any discriminatory
or hostile behavior due to your or hostile behavior or exchanges towards
race/ethnicity? others due to their race/ethnicity?
5.5
41
59
94.5
Yes No Yes No
Public Health Practices
60 percent of students report very closely following recommended hygiene practices, while 70% report physical
distancing.
Figure 8. To what extent have you been following recommendations for...
100
80
69.7
60.2
60
36.8
40
26.9
20
2.7 0.4 2.6 0.8
0
...hygiene practices? ...social/physical distancing?
Very closely Somewhat closely Not closely Not all following
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON COLLEGE STUDENT WELL-BEING Page 7Sources of Information
Eighty-four percent of students report that public health agencies are among their most trusted sources of
information, making this the most trusted source overall. Thirty-six report that campus officials are a most
trusted source.
Figure 9. What have been your most trusted sources of information regarding
the COVID-19 pandemic (select up to 3)?
100
84
80
60 53.2 50.8
40 35.6 34.4
27.8 26.7 23.4 21.1
20
0
Public health National media State/local Campus Friends/family Social media Federal Local media Other
agencies officials officials officials
Supportiveness of Campus
Sixty-nine percent of students report that their campus administration has been supportive during the pandemic,
and 78% perceived their professors as being supportive.
Figure 10. How supportive have the following groups been for you during
the COVID-19 pandemic?
100
80
60
39.6 37.5 40.1 34.5
40 29 31.9
21.3 24.4 22.7 22.9
15.1
20 9.6 13.1 8.7 7.7 10.1 7.3 6.9
13.1
4.6
0
College/university Your professors Campus mental health Campus medical services
administration services
Unsupportive Neutral Supportive Very supportive N/A
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON COLLEGE STUDENT WELL-BEING Page 8Mental Health and Substance Use Pre-/Post-Pandemic
Symptoms of mental health conditions remain high in college student populations, both before and after the
start of the pandemic. Relative to fall 2019, the prevalence of depression increased and substance use decreased
in spring 2020. In March through May 2020, a higher proportion of students report that their mental health
negatively impacted their academic performance. While students report lower levels of psychological well-being
post-pandemic relative to Fall 2019, they also reported higher levels of resiliency.
Figure 11a. Mental Health and Substance Use Fall 2019 vs. Spring 2020
(Healthy Minds Study)
100
80
60
40.9 38.1 36.6 38.3
35.7
40 31 31
26.3
30.5
20.9 17.7 20.9 24.1 21.9
20
0
Depression Suicidal ideation, Anxiety Flourishing Illicit substance Binge drinking, MH impaired
past 2 weeks use, past month past 2 weeks academics, 6+
days in last 4
weeks
Fall 2019 March-May 2020
Notes: There were 32 campuses in HMS in fall 2019 and 7 campuses in March-May 2020. Depression is a score of >10 on the
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), which measures the 9 core symptoms of a major depressive episode over the past
2 weeks. Suicidal ideation over the past 2 weeks is one item from the PHQ-9, defined as having “thoughts that you would be
better off dead or of hurting yourself in some way.” Anxiety is a score of >10 on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-scale,
which measures symptoms of generalized anxiety over the past 2 weeks. Flourishing (positive mental health) is a score of >48
on the Flourishing Scale. MH impaired academics is defined as >6 days in the last 4 weeks when mental or emotional health
negatively impacted academic performance.
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON COLLEGE STUDENT WELL-BEING Page 9Mental Health and Substance Use Pre-/Post-Pandemic (continued)
Figure 11b. Mental Health and Substance Use Fall 2019 vs. Spring 2020
(ACHA-NCHA)
100
80
55.9
60 49.5 47 50.8
36.5 39
40 25 27.2 26.8 27.8 31.1
19.2 17.8 19.1 22.1 24.4
20
0
Suicide risk Serious Loneliness Resilience Flourishing Binge Anxiety Depression
Psychological drinking, past impaired impaired
Distress 2 weeks academics academics
Fall 2019 March-May 2020
Notes: Fall 2019 includes 38,679 students on 58 campuses. March-May 2020 includes 8,366 students on 16 campuses.
Being at increased risk for suicide is a score of 7 or higher on the Suicide Behavior Questionnaire – Revised (SBQ-R).
Serious psychological distress is a score of 13 or higher on the Kessler-6 (K6.) Screening positive for loneliness is a score
of 6 or higher on the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. Resilience is a score of 7 or higher on the Connor-Davidson Resiliency
Scale – 2 (CD-RISC2). Flourishing (positive mental health) is a score of >48 on the Diener Flourishing Scale. Academic
impediments include negatively impacting performance in a class or delaying progress towards a degree and are measured
within the last 12 months.
CONTACT
The Healthy Minds Network: healthyminds@umich.edu
ACHA-NCHA: mhoban@acha.org
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