The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health of University Student: A Cross-Sectional Study in Bangladesh

Abstract

A novel coronavirus disease, known as COVID-19 has spread globally and brought a public health emergency to all the nations. This study aimed to evaluate the mental health status of the university student of Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 544 respondents participated in the study through a self-reported questionnaire and their mental health was assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale. Results found that about 78% of the students were afflicted with mental disorders during the COVID-19 lockdown. COVID-19 stressors including financial hardship, academic delays, worry about family member’s health and social media exposure were positively correlated with the anxiety levels of the students. Multivariate logistic regression results showed that the gender and educational status of the students were significant predictors for their anxiety level. These findings will help both the government and university authority to implement the appropriate mental health interventions during the pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19, mental health, university students, Bangladesh