An Examination of the Impact of COVID-19 on Student Emotional Well-Being

Introduction: Emotional well-being (EWB) among university students has received deserved attention in the United States (US). The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of COVID-19 on university student emotional well-being by examining 1) self-reported differences in symptoms of psychological distress (PD) before and after COVID-19, and 2) differences in student PD and resiliency based on demographic variables. It was hypothesized that differences in PD following the onset of COVID-19 and that differences in PD and resiliency based on demographic variables would be found. Methods: Five-hundred-and-eighty-three eligible students from a regionally accredited, southern university in the US voluntarily participated in this cross-sectional, online, retrospective study during spring 2021. Participants completed an electronic survey consisting of demographic questions and two survey instruments, the Trauma Symptom Checklist- 40 and Brief Resilience Scale. Descriptive and inferential analyses (i.e. ANOVAs) were conducted. Results: Levels of PD were significantly greater (p < .001) for all students following the onset of COVID-19 (m = 39) in comparison to pre COVID-19 (m = 22). Main effects based on pre/post condition demonstrated post levels of PD were higher for sex, race, income, and education status in comparison to pre COVID-19 PD levels (p < .001). Main effects for between group differences were indicated for PD among all demographic variables, sex (p < .001), race (p = .035), income (p < .001), and education status (p < .001). Main effects for group differences were found for resilience, sex (p < .001), race (p = .022), income (p < .001), and education status (p < .001). Students identifying as “other sex”, European American, low income and undergraduate experienced significantly greater PD and lower levels of resilience than their counterparts. Conclusions: Student EWB was impacted by the onset of COVID-19. PD increased as a result of COVID-19. Differences in PD and resilience on the basis of demographic variables provides evidence of the need to develop tailored programs/policies in order to support the EWB of all university students.