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Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Well-Being, Social Relationships and Academic Performance in a Sample of University Freshmen: A Propensity Score Match Evaluation Pre- and Post-Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Chiara Buizza

    (Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy)

  • Clarissa Ferrari

    (Research and Clinical Trials Office, Fondazione Poliambulanza Istituto Ospedaliero, Via Bissolati 57, 25124 Brescia, Italy)

  • Giulio Sbravati

    (Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy)

  • Jessica Dagani

    (Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy)

  • Herald Cela

    (Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
    Department of Psychology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Giuseppe Rainieri

    (Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy)

  • Alberto Ghilardi

    (Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted freshmen, compromising their mental health, lifestyles, and academic performance. There are few studies that have investigated changes in the health status and lifestyles of freshmen before and after the pandemic. The aims of this study were: (1) to carry out a pre–post-COVID-19 pandemic comparison between two freshmen samples, in order to detect differences in their socio-demographic characteristics and in some clinical variables; (2) to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the social and academic lives of the second sample of freshmen. The samples recruited in 2019 and 2022, matched by propensity score procedure (N = 553), were mostly female (57.3% vs. 55.3%); the mean age was 22.9 and 20.9 years, respectively. The freshmen recruited after the pandemic had less psychological distress and substance use than freshmen recruited before the pandemic. Seventy-eight percent of the freshmen stated that the pandemic had an impact on their social relationships. This effect was greater for females and Italian students. Forty-seven percent reported that the pandemic has worsened their academic performance, while 60% stated that pandemic has improved their grades. The results of this study can provide valuable insights into the impact of the pandemic on freshmen, in order to implement interventions to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic in some subgroups of this target population.

Suggested Citation

  • Chiara Buizza & Clarissa Ferrari & Giulio Sbravati & Jessica Dagani & Herald Cela & Giuseppe Rainieri & Alberto Ghilardi, 2023. "Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Well-Being, Social Relationships and Academic Performance in a Sample of University Freshmen: A Propensity Score Match Evaluation Pre- and Post-Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(15), pages 1-19, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:15:p:6485-:d:1207447
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