Psychological effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown among students and workers of a Spanish university

• Published in: Psychiatry research 2020-08, Vol.290, p.113108-113108, Article 113108
• Main Authors: Odriozola-González, Paula, Planchuelo-Gómez, Álvaro, Irurtia, María Jesús, de Luis-García, Rodrigo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety; Anxiety - epidemiology; Anxiety - psychology; Betacoronavirus; Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control; Coronavirus Infections - psychology; Coronavirus Infections - virology; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Faculty - psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Mental Health; Pandemics - prevention & control; Pneumonia, Viral - prevention & control; Pneumonia, Viral - psychology; Pneumonia, Viral - virology; Psychological impact; Quarantine - psychology; SARS-CoV-2; Spain - epidemiology; Stress; Stress, Psychological - epidemiology; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Students - psychology; Students - statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires; Universities; University students; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113108

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychological impact of COVID-19 in the university community during the first weeks of confinement. A cross-sectional study was conducted. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) was employed to assess symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. The emotional impact of the situation was analyzed using the Impact of Event Scale. An online survey was fulfilled by 2530 members of the University of Valladolid, in Spain. Moderate to extremely severe scores of anxiety, depression, and stress were reported by 21.34%, 34.19% and 28.14% of the respondents, respectively. A total of 50.43% of respondents presented moderate to severe impact of the outbreak. Students from Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences & Law showed higher scores related to anxiety, depression, stress and impact of event with respect to students from Engineering & Architecture. University staff presented lower scores in all measures compared to students, who seem to have suffered an important psychological impact during the first weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown. In order to provide timely crisis-oriented psychological services and to take preventive measures in future pandemic situations, mental health in university students should be carefully monitored. •College students reflected a possible psychological impact of the COVID-19 lockdown.•Symptoms of common mental health disorders were reported by 20-35% of respondents.•Around the half of respondents presented moderate to severe impact of the outbreak.•Students from the Engineering and Architecture area showed lower symptomatic scores.•Mental health from students should be monitored to mitigate the impact of the crisis.