The Mental Health Journey of being a University Student during
COVID-19: A Longitudinal Mixed Methods Study of Undergraduate and Graduate
Students
ABSTRACT
The
purpose of this longitudinal study is to gain an understanding of the mental
health journey of university students over the course of the 2020-2021 academic
year. Qualitative interviews were conducted during the early part of the fall
semester with 120 students (undergraduate, graduate and professional) and
postdoctoral fellows. Quantitative self-assessments of depression (Patient
Health Questionnaire; PHQ-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder; GAD-7);
and wellbeing (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale; WEMWBS) were conducted
monthly throughout the fall (2020) and spring (2021) semester. Follow-up
qualitative interviews are planned for the end of the spring (2021) semester.
This poster presentation will share findings from the initial interviews and
monthly depression, anxiety, and wellbeing assessments.