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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Chinese Postgraduate Students’ Mental Health

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  • Zhengyan Liang

    (School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China)

  • Derong Kang

    (School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China)

  • Minqiang Zhang

    (School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
    Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
    Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
    Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China)

  • Yuanlin Xia

    (School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China)

  • Qing Zeng

    (School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China)

Abstract

To understand the mental health status of Chinese postgraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic, we used three online questionnaires: self-rating anxiety (SAS) scale, self-rating depression (SDS) scale, and social avoidance and distress (SAD) scale. A total of 3137 postgraduate students from different regions of China participated in our study. We explored the relationship between participant characteristics and mental health using an analysis of variance (ANOVA). We found that the proportions of respondents with severe, mild, and moderate depression were 1.4%, 10.48%, and 21.99%, respectively, and the corresponding proportions of respondents with anxiety were 1.56%, 4.65%, and 14.69%, respectively. A one-way ANOVA revealed that the mental health statuses of the participants were different between the subgroups based on majors, classes, degree types, and the method of communication with advisors and students. A two-way ANOVA revealed significant effects on interaction and the method of communication with advisors and peers. These findings suggest that the mental health of postgraduate students should be monitored during the pandemic, especially when they are unable to communicate directly with their advisors or peers, and targeted psychological counselling must be focused on anxiety and depression.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhengyan Liang & Derong Kang & Minqiang Zhang & Yuanlin Xia & Qing Zeng, 2021. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Chinese Postgraduate Students’ Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-12, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11542-:d:671112
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    2. Peng Wan & Jinsheng Hu & Qi Li, 2023. "Impact of Social Support on Depressive Symptoms among Postgraduates during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Moderated Mediation Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-13, February.

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