Predictors, patterns, and correlates of moderate-severe psychological distress among New York City College Students during Waves 2–4 of COVID-19
Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated mental health conditions by introducing and/or modifying stressors, particularly in university populations. We examined longitudinal patterns, time-varying predictors, and contemporaneous correlates of moderate-severe psychological distress (MS-PD)...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86364-6 |
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| author | Craig J. Heck Deborah A. Theodore April Autry Brit Sovic Cynthia Yang Sarah Ann Anderson-Burnett Caroline Ray Eloise Austin Joshua Rotbert Jason Zucker Marina Catallozzi Magdalena E. Sobieszczyk Delivette Castor |
| author_facet | Craig J. Heck Deborah A. Theodore April Autry Brit Sovic Cynthia Yang Sarah Ann Anderson-Burnett Caroline Ray Eloise Austin Joshua Rotbert Jason Zucker Marina Catallozzi Magdalena E. Sobieszczyk Delivette Castor |
| author_sort | Craig J. Heck |
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| description | Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated mental health conditions by introducing and/or modifying stressors, particularly in university populations. We examined longitudinal patterns, time-varying predictors, and contemporaneous correlates of moderate-severe psychological distress (MS-PD) among college students. During 2020–2021, participants completed self-administered questionnaires quarterly (T1 = 562, T2 = 334, T3 = 221, and T4 = 169). MS-PD reflected Kessler-6 scores ≥ 8. At T1 (baseline), most participants were cisgender women [96% vs. 4% transgender/gender non-conforming (TGNC)]. MS-PD prevalence was over 50% at all timepoints. MS-PD predictors included low self-rated health and perceptions of local pandemic control, verbal/physical violence experience, food insecurity, cohabitation dynamics, geographic location, and loneliness. Unique MS-PD correlates encompassed drug use and TGNC identity. Trajectories comprised Persistently (40%), Highly (24% MS-PD twice/thrice), Minimally (15% MS-PD once), and Never (21%) Distressed. Persistently Distressed students had low social support and self-rated health; high food insecurity, drug use, physical/verbal violence experience, need-based financial aid, and TGNC representation; and fluctuating self-rated health amid increasing COVID-19 symptomatology. In this sample, MS-PD prevalence was high, persistent, and associated with financial, behavioral, structural, experiential, and intra- and inter-personal factors. Given its complexity, improving and preserving college students’ mental health necessitates comprehensive, multi-component activities to change adjustable stressors while attenuating the adverse effects of immutable influences. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-dfc79813d6c742f18a597ba71b47d38c2025-01-26T12:31:07ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-86364-6Predictors, patterns, and correlates of moderate-severe psychological distress among New York City College Students during Waves 2–4 of COVID-19Craig J. Heck0Deborah A. Theodore1April Autry2Brit Sovic3Cynthia Yang4Sarah Ann Anderson-Burnett5Caroline Ray6Eloise Austin7Joshua Rotbert8Jason Zucker9Marina Catallozzi10Magdalena E. Sobieszczyk11Delivette Castor12Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical CenterDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical CenterBarnard College, Health & WellnessDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical CenterBarnard College, Health & WellnessBarnard College, Health & WellnessBarnard College, Health & WellnessDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical CenterBarnard College, Health & WellnessDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical CenterBarnard College, Health & WellnessDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical CenterDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical CenterAbstract The COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated mental health conditions by introducing and/or modifying stressors, particularly in university populations. We examined longitudinal patterns, time-varying predictors, and contemporaneous correlates of moderate-severe psychological distress (MS-PD) among college students. During 2020–2021, participants completed self-administered questionnaires quarterly (T1 = 562, T2 = 334, T3 = 221, and T4 = 169). MS-PD reflected Kessler-6 scores ≥ 8. At T1 (baseline), most participants were cisgender women [96% vs. 4% transgender/gender non-conforming (TGNC)]. MS-PD prevalence was over 50% at all timepoints. MS-PD predictors included low self-rated health and perceptions of local pandemic control, verbal/physical violence experience, food insecurity, cohabitation dynamics, geographic location, and loneliness. Unique MS-PD correlates encompassed drug use and TGNC identity. Trajectories comprised Persistently (40%), Highly (24% MS-PD twice/thrice), Minimally (15% MS-PD once), and Never (21%) Distressed. Persistently Distressed students had low social support and self-rated health; high food insecurity, drug use, physical/verbal violence experience, need-based financial aid, and TGNC representation; and fluctuating self-rated health amid increasing COVID-19 symptomatology. In this sample, MS-PD prevalence was high, persistent, and associated with financial, behavioral, structural, experiential, and intra- and inter-personal factors. Given its complexity, improving and preserving college students’ mental health necessitates comprehensive, multi-component activities to change adjustable stressors while attenuating the adverse effects of immutable influences.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86364-6Adolescents and young adultsYouthMental healthLongitudinal analysisCollege healthPandemic preparedness |
| spellingShingle | Craig J. Heck Deborah A. Theodore April Autry Brit Sovic Cynthia Yang Sarah Ann Anderson-Burnett Caroline Ray Eloise Austin Joshua Rotbert Jason Zucker Marina Catallozzi Magdalena E. Sobieszczyk Delivette Castor Predictors, patterns, and correlates of moderate-severe psychological distress among New York City College Students during Waves 2–4 of COVID-19 Scientific Reports Adolescents and young adults Youth Mental health Longitudinal analysis College health Pandemic preparedness |
| title | Predictors, patterns, and correlates of moderate-severe psychological distress among New York City College Students during Waves 2–4 of COVID-19 |
| title_full | Predictors, patterns, and correlates of moderate-severe psychological distress among New York City College Students during Waves 2–4 of COVID-19 |
| title_fullStr | Predictors, patterns, and correlates of moderate-severe psychological distress among New York City College Students during Waves 2–4 of COVID-19 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Predictors, patterns, and correlates of moderate-severe psychological distress among New York City College Students during Waves 2–4 of COVID-19 |
| title_short | Predictors, patterns, and correlates of moderate-severe psychological distress among New York City College Students during Waves 2–4 of COVID-19 |
| title_sort | predictors patterns and correlates of moderate severe psychological distress among new york city college students during waves 2 4 of covid 19 |
| topic | Adolescents and young adults Youth Mental health Longitudinal analysis College health Pandemic preparedness |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86364-6 |
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