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Mental Health during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Optimism and Emotional Regulation

Author

Listed:
  • Imen Krifa

    (Université de Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Mental illness Epidemiology Research Laboratory LR12ES04, Screening and Early Management, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
    Université de Sousse, Higher School of Sciences and Techniques of Health of Sousse, Sousse 4054, Tunisia)

  • Llewellyn Ellardus van Zyl

    (Department of Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences, University of Eindhoven, 5612 Eindhoven, The Netherlands
    Optentia Research Focus Area, North-West University (VTC), Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa
    Department of Human Resource Management, University of Twente, 7522 Enschede, The Netherlands
    Department of Social Psychology, InstitutfürPsychologie, Goethe University, 60323 Frankfurt, Germany)

  • Amel Braham

    (Université de Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Mental illness Epidemiology Research Laboratory LR12ES04, Screening and Early Management, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
    Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse, Department of Psychiatry, Sousse 4000, Tunisia)

  • Selma Ben Nasr

    (Université de Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Mental illness Epidemiology Research Laboratory LR12ES04, Screening and Early Management, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
    Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse, Department of Psychiatry, Sousse 4000, Tunisia)

  • Rebecca Shankland

    (Laboratory DIPHE (Development, Individual, Personality, Handicap, Education), Department of Psychology of Development, Education and Vulnerabilities, University Lumière Lyon 2, 69676 Bron, France
    Laboratory LIP/PC2S, Department of Psychology, University Grenoble Alpes/Savoie-Mont-Blanc, 38000 Grenoble, France)

Abstract

In light of different challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, university students are considered a particularly vulnerable population to mental health and study engagement issues. The first years at university represent a crucial period for students and are associated with an increase in mental health problems, particularly in healthcare studies. This study aimed (1) to document the current levels of mental health and study engagement among healthcare students in Tunisia, and (2) to investigate the relationships between emotional regulation, optimism, study engagement and common mental health problems (stress, anxiety and depression) among this population. A cross-sectional, electronic survey-based research design was used to draw a sample of 366 health care students from a University in Tunisia. Participants mostly reported mild (34.7%) or moderate (44.3%) levels of depression, moderate (44.7%) or severe (33.6%) levels of anxiety, average (50.8%) or mild (33.8%) levels of stress, and high levels of study engagement (>85%). Through structural equation modelling, the results showed that emotional regulation negatively affected stress, anxiety, and depression. Optimism partially mediated the relationship between emotional regulation, anxiety and depression and fully mediated the relationship between emotional regulation and study engagement. The findings indicated a high prevalence of psychological distress among healthcare university students in Tunisia, and specific protective factors that may be targeted to reduce mental health problems.

Suggested Citation

  • Imen Krifa & Llewellyn Ellardus van Zyl & Amel Braham & Selma Ben Nasr & Rebecca Shankland, 2022. "Mental Health during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Optimism and Emotional Regulation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1413-:d:735403
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Maurício Rech & Gabriela Bertoletti Diaz & Bruno Luis Schaab & Carolina Garcia Soares Leães Rech & Prisla Ücker Calvetti & Caroline Tozzi Reppold, 2023. "Association of Emotional Self-Regulation with Psychological Distress and Positive Functioning Dimensions in Brazilian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-13, July.
    3. Mayuri Gogoi & Adam Webb & Manish Pareek & Christopher D. Bayliss & Lieve Gies, 2022. "University Students’ Mental Health and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from the UniCoVac Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-15, July.
    4. Mateusz Grajek & Karolina Krupa-Kotara & Mateusz Rozmiarek & Karolina Sobczyk & Eliza Działach & Michał Górski & Joanna Kobza, 2022. "The Level of COVID-19 Anxiety among Oncology Patients in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-14, September.
    5. Yuxi Tang & Weiguang He, 2022. "Emotion Regulation and Psychological Capital of Chinese University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Serial Mediation Effect of Learning Satisfaction and Learning Engagement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-15, October.

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