Prevalence of anxiety symptoms among Chinese university students amid the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

College students in China are particularly vulnerable to worry. In the meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic might worsen anxiety symptoms. However, due to the inconsistency of many studies regarding anxiety symptoms, it has proven challenging to provide accurate psychiatric health treatments to undergraduates. Therefore, in order to determine the prevalence of anxiety among Chinese university students during the COVID-19 epidemic, this study will undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis. English databases (i.e Embase (Ovid), APA PsycInfo, Medline, Pubmed, Cochrane Library) were utilized to identify papers that provide information on the incidence of anxiety among Chinese college students during the pandemic. Two authors evaluated the qualifications of relevant studies, assessed the risk of bias (RoB), and retrieved data. RoB was evaluated using the cross-sectional study quality evaluation criteria from the American Agency for HealthCare Quality and Research (AHRQ). Three hundred seventy-three records were retrieved. Twenty-five studies were eventually included, involving 1,003,743 Chinese college students. The findings of the study identified that the pooled prevalence of anxiety symptoms was 25.0% (95% CI: 21%-29%, P < 0.001), and those among medical-related professionals were lower than those of the general population (22.1% vs. 25%, P < 0.001). In addition, the prevalence of studies with more female respondents was higher than those with fewer female respondents (26.4% vs. 8%). In the later phases of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the early stages, anxiety prevalence is higher (29.1% vs. 17.2%). Finally, using meta-regression to explore the source of heterogeneity, this study found that the most potential source was whether the graduate students or otherwise. This meta-analysis revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, a quarter of Chinese college students had anxiety symptoms. Therefore, it is necessary to provide continuous psychological assessment and treatment services for college students.

Keywords: Anxiety symptoms; COVID-19; COVID-19 anxiety; Coronavirus; Meta-analysis; Prevalence; Systematic review; University students.

Figure 1

Flowchart of study inclusion.

Figure 2

Forest plot of prevalence of anxiety among Chinese university students amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Figure 3

Funnel plot of publication bias among the 25 included studies