Disentangling depression in Belgian higher education students amidst the first COVID-19 lockdown (April-May 2020)

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Research
• Epidemiology
• Higher Education Studies

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic necessitated unprecedented public health policies, including nationwide stay-at-home orders in Belgium.
• Limited evidence exists on the mental health impacts of such measures, particularly on higher education students.
• A review identified key stressors during quarantine in previous epidemics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between previously identified stressors and mental health outcomes in Belgian higher education students during a stay-at-home order.
• To examine the mediating role of academic stress on the relationship between exposure duration and depressive symptoms.
• To identify protective factors against depressive symptoms in this student population.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional online survey of 18,301 students from 13 higher education institutions (HEIs) in Belgium.
• Data collected between April 26 and May 11, 2020.
• Structural equation modeling used to analyze associations between stressors, duration of exposure, and depressive symptom severity.

Main Results:

• Identified stressors were significantly associated with increased depressive symptom severity.
• 'Perceived academic stress', 'institutional dissatisfaction', and 'fear of infection' showed strong associations with higher depressive symptoms.
• Academic stress mediated the relationship between exposure duration and depressive symptoms; steady relationships and cohabitation were associated with lower severity.

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight the need for student-centered mental health support and prevention strategies.
• Results suggest authorities and HEIs should carefully consider the implementation and impact of stay-at-home orders on student well-being.
• A nuanced approach to public health policies is crucial for mitigating adverse mental health effects.