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"Like Walking Through a Fog": COVID-19's Effects on the Self-Reported Mental Health of First-Year College Students

Herron, Alexandra Elora
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou165029163802719

Abstract Details

2022, Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, Sociology (Arts and Sciences).
This thesis explores the correlation between the COVID-19 pandemic and the mental health of first-year college students at a public university with a focus on self-reported mental health, specifically symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. The aim of this study is to address the effect of COVID-19 on first-year students and gain an understanding of specific COVID-related concerns. Qualitative analysis relies on data from 12 semi-structured interviews with first-year students, which were analyzed through focused coding, resulting in the creation of five main codes: (1) mental health, (2) transitioning to adulthood, (3) missing opportunities, (4) missing connections, and (5) participant resilience. Health anxiety as well as isolation and a sense of burnout were the top contributors to worsening mental health symptoms according to interviewees. Other top contributors reported by interviewees were the delayed transition to college, increased time with family, adjusting to newfound independence, not staying on campus, online schooling, missing important milestones, and a lack of social connectedness. Despite these struggles, interviewees described several positives such as a strengthened bond with their family, development of healthy coping mechanisms, and time for introspection. This implicates the potential for deterioration of mental health in other first-year students and the need for more research on this population.
Charlie Morgan (Advisor)
Holly Ningard (Committee Member)
Paula Miller-Buckner (Committee Member)
69 p.
Educational Sociology; Higher Education; Mental Health; Social Research; Sociology
COVID-19; mental health; college students; first-year; anxiety; depression

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Herron, A. E. (2022). "Like Walking Through a Fog": COVID-19's Effects on the Self-Reported Mental Health of First-Year College Students [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou165029163802719

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Herron, Alexandra. "Like Walking Through a Fog": COVID-19's Effects on the Self-Reported Mental Health of First-Year College Students . 2022. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou165029163802719.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Herron, Alexandra. ""Like Walking Through a Fog": COVID-19's Effects on the Self-Reported Mental Health of First-Year College Students ." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2022. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou165029163802719

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.