Study: Depression in college students up in early pandemic

Those who stayed active suffered less.

The rate of depression among college students was much higher in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, compared with pre- pandemic levels, according to an analysis of how disruptions in students’ daily life affected their mental health.

At highest risk for depression were students whose physical activity declined the most in that time period.

At lowest risk were those who maintained their activity level.

Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers cited“stark increases in depression” in just a few months, based on results from standard diagnostic scales. In addition to assessing physical activity, the study also found that stay- at- home orders, campus closures and social distancing led, on average, to students socializing less ( to less than 30 minutes a day) and sleeping more ( by 25 to 30 minutes a night).

Doctors, parents and students themselves all report an uptick in depression among young people since the pandemic began, restricting life in many ways.

90%

Rate of depression among college students was up to this much higher early in the pandemic, according to the study. Researchers cited “stark increases in depression” in just a few months, from about 32% to 61% of the 682 students, based on results from standard diagnostic scales.

1- 2 hours

Amount of time that the highest risk students engaged in physical activity, dropping, on average from 10,000 to 4,600 steps a day.

5+

Number of hours students in the study were spending on screens — doubling the amount they had spending before the pandemic.