Impact of resilience on college student mental health during COVID-19

The aim of this study was to investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted college student mental health and alcohol use and to determine how resilience could alleviate negative outcomes.Students attending an Appalachian university during spring 2020 were surveyed shortly after on-campus activities stopped.Survey items included resilience, demographics, self-rated health, and depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and alcohol use before and since COVID-19.There was a significant increase in prevalence of severe depression, severe anxiety, and high stress, and a significant decrease in prevalence high risk for problem drinking before and since COVID-19. Four separate standard least squares regression models were conducted with each of the dependent variables. Self-rated health was the strongest predictor for changes in depression, anxiety, and stress in each of the models, displaying a negative relationship.Universities should prepare students using resilience training and provide employment and other resources to mitigate effects of stressful situations.