College students were already facing higher rates of mental health problems prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but now these issues are being amplified.
Dr. Cindy Liu said that something as simple as needing to move from where you normally live is something that can affect your mental health. Dr. Liu is one of the researchers who studied the psychological effects of this displacement by surveying nearly 800 students between April and August.
"About a third of the participants in our study were asked to leave campus and to move off of campus, and that those who had to relocate showed higher rates of mental health problems," Dr. Liu said.
Depression, anxiety, loneliness and COVID-related worry and grief are among the problems exhibited.
"We think about items that are important to us. It could be things like medication that really have a huge effect on how well we do. We had students who were studying abroad and couldn't get back to campus and yet their items were removed without them being there," Dr. Liu said.
Dr. Liu said the findings should inform colleges of the impact displacement has on students and the need for ample support.
"We hope that there will not be another major outbreak, but that is to be determined," Dr. Liu said. "While we do want to mitigate contagion, we also have to acknowledge the mental health consequences of our decisions."
Researchers will continue to follow students to see what long-term effects displacement has on them.