COVID-19-Related Variables and Its Association with Anxiety and Suicidal Ideation: Differences Between International and Local University Students in Taiwan

doi:10.2147/PRBM.S333226

. 2021 Nov 15:14:1857-1866.

doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S333226. eCollection 2021.

COVID-19-Related Variables and Its Association with Anxiety and Suicidal Ideation: Differences Between International and Local University Students in Taiwan

Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu^#¹, Iqbal Pramukti^#², Carol Strong³, Hsiao-Wen Wang⁴, Mark D Griffiths⁵, Chung-Ying Lin^{3

6

7

8}, Nai-Ying Ko⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
² Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, West Java, Indonesia.
³ Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan.
⁵ International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
⁶ Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
⁸ Biostatistics Consulting Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
⁹ Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 34815723
PMCID: PMC8604642
DOI: 10.2147/PRBM.S333226

COVID-19-Related Variables and Its Association with Anxiety and Suicidal Ideation: Differences Between International and Local University Students in Taiwan

Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu et al. Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2021.

. 2021 Nov 15:14:1857-1866.

doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S333226. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu^#¹, Iqbal Pramukti^#², Carol Strong³, Hsiao-Wen Wang⁴, Mark D Griffiths⁵, Chung-Ying Lin^{3

6

7

8}, Nai-Ying Ko⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
² Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, West Java, Indonesia.
³ Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan.
⁵ International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
⁶ Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
⁸ Biostatistics Consulting Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
⁹ Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 34815723
PMCID: PMC8604642
DOI: 10.2147/PRBM.S333226

Abstract

Purpose: The present study examined the differences between international and local university students in Taiwan regarding COVID-19-related variables, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.

Participants and methods: An online cross-sectional survey (sent via an online link in an email) was carried out comprising university students (n=529). The students were assessed on measures (including validated psychometric instruments) of perceived susceptibility to COVID-19, perceived sufficiency of resources, sources of COVID-19 information, perceived satisfaction with support, anxiety and suicidal ideation.

Results: Local students had higher susceptibility to COVID-19 (p<0.001) but decreased sufficiency with resources (p<0.001) and anxiety (p<0.001) compared with international students. Staying with family members, satisfaction with support, and information seeking were the factors that predicted anxiety among international students (all p-values<0.05), while information seeking predicted local students' anxiety (p<0.001). Furthermore, staying with family members, susceptibility to COVID-19, and sufficiency with resources were the factors that predicted suicidal ideation among international students (all p-values<0.05), while being a male and satisfaction with support predicted suicidal ideation among local students (all p-values<0.05).

Conclusion: International students displayed different COVID-19-related challenges compared with local students. More specifically, international students as compared with local students had lower susceptibility to COVID-19 and higher anxiety. Therefore, healthcare providers should pay more attention to international students' psychological health and awareness regarding impacts of COVID-19 on health.

Keywords: COVID-19; Taiwan; anxiety; suicidal ideation; university students.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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[1] World Health Organisation. COVID-19 weekly operational update on COVID-19-1; 2021. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/weekly-operational-update-on-cov.... Accessed February 2, 2021.

[2] World Health Organisation. COVID-19 weekly operational update on COVID-19-1; 2021. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/weekly-operational-update-on-cov.... Accessed February 2, 2021.

[3] Nicola M, Alsafi Z, Sohrabi C, et al. The socio-economic implications of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19): a review. Int J Surg. 2020;78:185–193. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.04.018 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Nicola M, Alsafi Z, Sohrabi C, et al. The socio-economic implications of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19): a review. Int J Surg. 2020;78:185–193. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.04.018 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Gössling S, Scott D, Hall CM. Pandemics, tourism and global change: a rapid assessment of COVID-19. J Sustain Tour. 2020;1–20. doi:10.1080/09669582.2020.1758708 - DOI

[6] Gössling S, Scott D, Hall CM. Pandemics, tourism and global change: a rapid assessment of COVID-19. J Sustain Tour. 2020;1–20. doi:10.1080/09669582.2020.1758708 - DOI

[7] Rajabimajd N, Alimoradi Z, Griffiths MD. Impact of COVID-19-related fear and anxiety on job attributes: a systematic review. Asian J Soc Health Behav. 2021;4:51–55. doi:10.4103/shb.shb_24_21 - DOI

[8] Rajabimajd N, Alimoradi Z, Griffiths MD. Impact of COVID-19-related fear and anxiety on job attributes: a systematic review. Asian J Soc Health Behav. 2021;4:51–55. doi:10.4103/shb.shb_24_21 - DOI

[9] Chen I-H, Chen C-Y, Pakpour AH, Griffiths MD, Lin C-Y. Internet-related behaviors and psychological distress among schoolchildren during COVID-19 school suspension. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2020;59(10):1099–1102.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2020.06.007 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] Chen I-H, Chen C-Y, Pakpour AH, Griffiths MD, Lin C-Y. Internet-related behaviors and psychological distress among schoolchildren during COVID-19 school suspension. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2020;59(10):1099–1102.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2020.06.007 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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COVID-19-Related Variables and Its Association with Anxiety and Suicidal Ideation: Differences Between International and Local University Students in Taiwan

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COVID-19-Related Variables and Its Association with Anxiety and Suicidal Ideation: Differences Between International and Local University Students in Taiwan

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