Page 49 - JCBP-3-2

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Mental health status of Chinese college students in the post-epidemic period

Our research found differences in the level of take public transportation may cause trauma or stress-
depression/anxiety among students of different majors. related diseases. Our survey found that the mental health
Compared with nonmedical majors, medical students status of college students worsened significantly after
were more affected after the easing of the restrictions of the the easing of the restrictions of the pandemic. It may be
pandemic. The results of this study are similar to those of that the mental health problems of college students are
previous studies. The prevalence of anxiety among medical becoming increasingly serious, and the pressure caused by
students worldwide is much higher than that in the general COVID-19 had further adverse effects on their learning
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population. Moreira et al. also found that the prevalence and mental health. To cope with the psychological health
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of anxiety and depression among medical students was challenges faced by many college students as a result of the
higher than that among nonmedical students. During the easing of the COVID-19 restrictions, different authorities
pandemic, the proportion of anxiety and depression among and departments such as universities, governments, and
Chinese medical students was also higher than that among even the society should heighten their attention regarding
nonmedical students, and the specific influencing factors the psychological health of this demographic group.
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need further study. In addition, male students have lower 5. Study limitations
levels of anxiety and depression than female students. In
general, the prevalence of anxiety and depression among This study has several limitations as follows: first, the
female students is significantly higher than that among study is of cross-sectional design, which is not feasible for
their male counterparts. Biological factors, such as establishing a causal relationship. Second, certain factors
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genetic and epigenetic susceptibility, stress, immune could affect the generalizability of our findings. Third, the
system, neural plasticity, and hormone environment, are respondents were free to respond to each survey question
all factors that affect women when suffering from anxiety with the answer of their choice, potentially constituting
and depression. Some data show that with increased age, bias in the survey results. The high number of cases with
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women experience higher levels of stress than men do, and depression, anxiety, and perceived stress in this survey are
the degree of aggravation is also significantly stronger than probably stemming from this presumed bias. In addition,
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that among men. Therefore, after the easing of COVID-19 we did not investigate whether the respondents had mental
restrictions, female students may be more likely to show health diseases or received relevant treatment before the
stress internalization disorder, which leads to stress-related pandemic restrictions were eased. Next, the respondents in
diseases. Women are more likely to have depression than this survey were all recruited from the same regions; such
men due to life stress. 35 geographical limitation poses challenges for the findings to
be extrapolated to students in other regions. Finally, the self-
After the easing of the pandemic restrictions, reported mental health level determined in this survey was
people’s behaviors underwent shifts to some extent. not evaluated and confirmed by mental health professionals.
The survey showed that people were afraid of taking
public transportation and became more attentive to the 6. Conclusion
treatment of COVID-19. Although the fear for being
infected with COVID-19 is commonly cited as the Our survey results support the view that easing pandemic
probable cause of behavioral changes, other factors such restrictions significantly affected the mental health of
as having an enhanced understanding of COVID-19 and college students in a negative fashion. College students
its implications if infected and feeling trepidation over from families with vulnerable individuals may be
particularly susceptible to a greater number of mental
COVID-19 infection in themselves or their families also health problems. The easing of pandemic restrictions may
stand out as prominent causes.
have further compounded the stress on the students who
According to our survey results, the intensification already have psychological health problems. After the
of stress, the ability to cope with stress, the lack of pandemic restrictions were relaxed, the mental health of
knowledge about the spread or infection of COVID-19, many students was adversely affected by their persistent
and the worry about taking public transportation were worries and fears of the uncertainties in the reinstitution
significantly related to the increase in depression and of restrictions, which had taken a toll on both their
anxiety (P < 0.001). These findings are consistent with physical and mental well-being. Addressing the many
previous research results. Excessive stress changes the negative consequences of poor mental health requires
circadian rhythm of sleep, which is the main factor leading the cooperation of the government, schools, and families
to anxiety and depression. 36,37 The pressure caused by working to address the risk factors in this demographic
sudden changes in society, the fear or lack of knowledge group. Our results showed that college students lacked
of COVID-19 transmission, and the fear of going out to relevant information on mental health protection

Volume 3 Issue 2 (2025) 43 doi: 10.36922/jcbp.2139