Psychological Impacts of Returning Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Survey Among Iranian Students

Background: In addition to its potentially harmful physical consequences, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause various negative psychological consequences for individuals. One cohort likely to have been affected is university students who have had to return and study from their home cities due to the physical closures of universities. Objectives: The present study was conducted on students to assess psychological impacts (i.e., anxiety, depression, and stress) on predicting COVID-19 anxiety resulting from returning home and quarantining due to university closure. Methods: The study sample comprised 715 Iranian students who were asked to complete the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21) and the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale. Results: The mean scale scores for COVID-19 anxiety, stress, depression, and anxiety were 13.75 (out of 54), 6.68 (out of 21), 5.54 (out of 21), and 4.74 (out of 21), respectively. Significantly higher levels of COVID-19 anxiety were observed among students who had been infected with the virus or had family/friends infected with the virus (compared to individuals who had not). Moreover, students who lived with their friends reported significantly higher COVID-19 anxiety than those who lived with their families. Conclusions: The study also showed a positive association between psychological distress and COVID-19 anxiety among students who returned to their homes during the pandemic. The findings suggest that mental health interventions are needed for students and should be implemented in the early stages of future pandemics.