Stress, Anxiety, and Depression among Latinx University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had disruptive effects on college students globally. These include economic dislocation, social isolation, and financial stress. Minority and low-income students have experienced greater adversity than their peers. During the pandemic, college students have increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, particularly among minority groups. We conducted a cross-sectional study using standardized instruments (PSS-4 and PHQ-4) to determine the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression in a university attended by a majority of Latinx students. We also conducted a meta-analysis with the inverse variance method for pooling to compare the mean PSS-4 to other norm values. We found that Latinx students had a high prevalence of moderate to severe stress and high levels of anxiety and depression that varied by age and gender. This suggests that there is a need for outreach programs that address minority students’ mental health during the global public health crisis.