Keywords
mental health
loneliness
stress
anxiety
depression
How to Cite
Abstract
Studies indicate that college students have been the most affected in mental health by the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, there has been a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness in female university students after this period. However, studies aimed at understanding the impact of the post-pandemic on mental health among Puerto Rican youth are scarce. Considering this limitation, this study sought to evaluate the state of mental health and identify differences by sex in the post-pandemic period in a sample of 872 students from the University of Puerto Rico. The participants completed an online survey that collected information on sociodemographic variables and instruments to measure levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness. A descriptive analysis and a multivariate analysis of variance were conducted to explore differences between men and women on the scales evaluated. The statistical analysis revealed significant effects of sex on the levels of depression (p = .004), anxiety (p < .001), stress (p < .001), and loneliness (p = .015). Women scored significantly higher on all scales compared to men. The results of this study not only demonstrate the impact of the post-pandemic on the mental health of college students, but also these findings highlight the importance of considering women and men differences in the experience of mental health during adversity.
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