- A new study found that college students are increasingly reporting signs of anxiety and burnout amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
- Additionally, the students who participated in the survey were more likely to report increased risk of alcohol and tobacco use and an increase in unhealthy eating habits.
- Experts say as students transition back to on campus learning, they may face additional stressors.
College students are experiencing rising rates of anxiety, depression, burnout, and “unhealthy coping mechanisms,” like vaping and tobacco use, according to a new survey conducted by The Ohio State University’s Office of the Chief Wellness Officer.
According to Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, chief wellness officer and dean of the College of Nursing at Ohio State, who led the survey, this is the second time the survey has been conducted in less than a year, and students’ mental health has significantly declined.
Student burnout rose drastically from August 2020 to April 2021 according to the experts.
“In August 2020, the first time we did the survey, student burnout was at 40%. In April 2021, it was 71%,” said Melnyk in a statement. “The survey really brought students’ continued mental health struggles to light, and it is crucial that we arm students with the resilience, cognitive-behavioral skills and coping skills that we know are protective against mental health disorders.”
During this timeline students who screened positive for anxiety rose from 39 to 43 percent. Those who screened positive for depression rose from 24 percent to 28 percent.
Additionally, they found more students reported drinking, smoking, and eating unhealthy food to cope with the stress.
More healthy ways of handling stress, including increased physical activity, also dropped from 35 percent to 28 percent.
Source: healthline