Psychological distress among tertiary students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Victoria, Australia

In 2020, COVID-19 related health responses included prolonged lockdowns in Victoria, Australia. Tertiary students, particularly international students, may have faced social, financial and academic pressures due to isolation, distance from family, loss of income owing to limited work opportunities, and the rapid switch to online learning. This study aimed to investigate the stressors and psychological impact of the pandemic on Victorian university students, including their coping measures. An online quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021. Measures included Kessler-10 Psychological Distress scale and a novel scale developed to explore stressors related to COVID-19 lockdowns on students focussing on: academic (8 items), financial (5 items), travel (2 items) and social (2 items) stressors. Independent t-tests were applied to determine the difference in level of psychological distress between international and domestic students. Bivariate correlations and multiple regression analysis were conducted to examine the relationship and predictive ability of various factors on students’ levels of psychological distress. From the 142 students who participated, 36.6% reported experiencing mild to moderate levels of psychological distress, while 48.6% reported severe psychological distress. There were no differences in levels of stress between international and domestic students. Academic (p < 0.001) and social stressors (p < 0.01) were statistically significant in predicting levels of psychological distress among students. A majority mentioned coping behaviours, with 84.5% (n = 120) exercising, 14% (n = 20) smoking and 52.1% (n = 74) drinking alcohol. Findings suggest a call for a comprehensive strategy to support Victorian university students in addressing psychological distress and provide coping strategies in crises like COVID-19.