Risk and Protective Factors in Female Undergraduates' Mental Health Changes during COVID-19 Pandemic: Moderation by Rumination, Self-control, and Resilience

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in worldwide psychological, social, and economic upheavals. The pandemic has forced undergraduates to take online classes at home, which might erode their mental health. However, only a few longitudinal studies have examined the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on undergraduates. This study investigated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on undergraduates' mental health and identified the determinants of their mental health. We surveyed 125 female undergraduates at two time points; during the second state of emergency (T1) and the fourth semi-emergency coronavirus measures (T2) in the Hyogo prefecture of Japan. The online surveys assessed depressive symptoms, self-control, rumination, resilience, and fear of COVID-19. Results indicated that students experienced significant increases in depressive symptoms from T1 to T2. Moderation analyses revealed that negative introspection predicted increases in mental health problems from T1 to T2, whereas emotional regulation and self-control protected against mental health decline. This study provides longitudinal evidence of undergraduates' mental health decline during the COVID-19 pandemic.