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. 2022 May 2;17(5):e0267724.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267724. eCollection 2022.

Change in college student health and well-being profiles as a function of the COVID-19 pandemic

Stephanie T Lanza  1   2 , Courtney A Whetzel  1 , Ashley N Linden-Carmichael  1 , Craig J Newschaffer  2
Affiliations

Change in college student health and well-being profiles as a function of the COVID-19 pandemic

Stephanie T Lanza et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has potential for long-lasting effects on college students' well-being. We examine changes from just before to during the pandemic in indicators of health and well-being and comprehensive profiles of health and well-being, along with links between covariates and profiles during the pandemic.

Participants: 1,004 students participated in a longitudinal study that began in November 2019.

Methods: Latent class analysis identified health and well-being profiles at both waves; covariates were included in relation to class membership.

Results: Mental health problems increased, whereas substance use, sexual behavior, physical inactivity, and food insecurity decreased. Six well-being classes were identified at each wave. Baseline class membership, sociodemographic characteristics, living situation, ethnicity, coping strategies, and belongingness were associated with profile membership at follow-up.

Conclusions: COVID-19 has had significant and differential impacts on today's students; their health and well-being should be considered holistically when understanding and addressing long-term effects of this pandemic.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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