Depression, anxiety and help seeking among students during the COVID-19 epidemic

Pandemija COVID-19 je pripomogla k doživljanju duševnih stisk med študenti. V magistrskem delu sem preučevala vlogo demografskih značilnosti, psihičnega statusa, lastnosti študija ter življenjskih okoliščin v času epidemije COVID-19 pri pojasnjevanju duševnih težav slovenskih študentov in njihovemu iskanju pomoči. Izvedla sem sekundarno analizo podatkov, pri čemer sem izhajala iz raziskave Nacionalnega inštituta za javno zdravje, ki se je odvijala v februarju in marcu 2021. Udeleženi študentje (n = 5234) so bili redno vpisani v javne in koncesionirane samostojne visokošolske zavode Republike Slovenije. Izpolnjevali so vprašalnik, ki je vključeval Lestvico socialne podpore (OSSS-3), Vprašalnik o bolnikovem zdravju (PHQ-9), Lestvico generalizirane anksioznosti (GAD-7) in nekatera druga relevantna vprašanja. Podatke sem analizirala preko multiple linearne regresije in testov preverjanja domnev o razlikah. Rezultati kažejo, da k doživljanju anksioznosti med slovenskimi študenti pripomorejo dejavniki, kot so spol, starost, psihični status, socialna podpora in zaznani vpliv COVIDa-19. Doživljanje depresivnosti pa poleg dejavnikov za doživljanje anksioznosti dodatno napoveduje še letnik študija. Iskanje pomoči so napovedovali spol, psihični status, socialna podpora in zaznani vpliv COVIDa-19. Ugotovila sem, da obstajajo razlike v doživljanju depresivnosti, anksioznosti in iskanju pomoči pri študentih. O višjih stopnjah depresivnosti in anksioznosti so poročale študentke, študenti prvih letnikov (prvič vpisani), študentje s predhodnimi duševnimi motnjami in študentje z nižjo stopnjo socialne podpore. O pogostejšem iskanju pomoči so poročale študentke in vsi študentje z nižjo stopnjo socialne podpore. Rezultati magistrskega dela nudijo vpogled v duševno stanje študentske populacije glede na kontekst ukrepov, ki so veljali ob koncu drugega vala epidemije COVID-19 v Sloveniji. Ugotovitve lahko koristijo pri prepoznavanju ranljivih skupin znotraj študentske populacije in oblikovanju usmerjenih intervencij za študente v času kriznih razmer, kot je epidemija.The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to mental distress among university and college students. This master\u27s thesis explores the role of demographic characteristics, psychological status, schooling characteristics, and life circumstances during the COVID-19 epidemic in explaining Slovenian university students\u27 mental health problems and seeking help for them. I conducted a secondary data analysis based on the National Institute of Public Health research, which took place in February and March 2021. The participating students (n = 5234) were full-time enrolled in public and concessionary independent higher education institutions of the Republic of Slovenia. They completed a questionnaire that included Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3), The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), General Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7), and some other relevant questions. I analyzed the data using multiple linear regression and hypothesis testing for differences. The results show that factors such as gender, age, psychological status, social support, and perceived impact of the COVID-19 contribute to the experience of anxiety among Slovenian students. Experiencing depression is additionally predicted by the year of study. Help-seeking was predicted by gender, psychological status, social support, and perceived impact of the COVID-19. I found differences in the experience of depression, anxiety, and help-seeking among students. Higher levels of depression and anxiety were reported by female students, first-year students (enrolled for the first time), students with prior mental health disorders, and students with lower social support levels. Female students and all students with lower social support levels reported more frequent help-seeking behaviors. The results of the master\u27s thesis provide an insight into the mental state of the student population in the context of the measures placed at the end of the second COVID-19 epidemic wave in Slovenia. The findings can help identify vulnerable groups within the student population and design targeted interventions for students during crisis such as epidemics