COVID-19 vaccine related anxiety partially mediates the association between COVID-19 related anxiety and student adjustment to college during the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic caused severe disruptions in living and learning to millions of college students. Here we investigated using mediation analysis two dimensions of anxiety that were specific to the pandemic - COVID-19 related anxiety and COVID-19 vaccine anxiety - to evaluate their relationship...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of American college health 2024-06, p.1-10
Main Authors: Nguyen, Hanh, Kwok, Hawai, Melara, Robert D
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The COVID-19 pandemic caused severe disruptions in living and learning to millions of college students. Here we investigated using mediation analysis two dimensions of anxiety that were specific to the pandemic - COVID-19 related anxiety and COVID-19 vaccine anxiety - to evaluate their relationship to college adjustment during the pandemic. Using cross-sectional survey data across three semester waves (Spring 2021, Fall 2021, and Spring 2022) we probed whether anxiety functioned as a challenge or hindrance stressor on adjustment. We found that although anxiety decreased in both COVID-19 dimensions across semesters, student adjustment to college remained consistently low. Our mediation analysis revealed that both COVID-19 related anxiety and COVID-19 vaccine-related anxiety functioned as challenge stressors, elevating academic, social, personal-emotional, and institutional adjustment during the pandemic. We discuss the role of positive COVID impacts on college adjustment, including enhanced social support.
ISSN:0744-8481
1940-3208
1940-3208
DOI:10.1080/07448481.2024.2362322