COVID-19 dimensions and psychotic experiences among US college students: Findings from the Healthy Mind Study 2020

Hans Oh, Jessica Goehring, Ravi Rajkumar, Megan Besecker, Sasha Zhou, Jordan E. DeVylder

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused tremendous changes in daily living, which may be related to mental health problems, including psychotic experiences, though research has only begun to assess these associations. Methods: We analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Survey (Fall Semester Cohort 2020), which is a non-probability sample of students attending one of 36 universities in the United States, who completed an online survey during the COVID-19 pandemic (September–December 2020). We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the associations between several COVID-19 dimensions (anxiety, discrimination, financial distress, infection, illness of loved one, death of loved one, caregiving) and 12-month psychotic experiences, adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and international student status. Results: Each individual COVID-19 dimension was significantly associated with greater odds of having 12-month psychotic experiences, with the exception of being a caregiver. When accounting for all COVID-19 dimensions simultaneously in the same model, only COVID-19 related anxiety, financial distress, and infection were associated with psychotic experiences. Conclusion: COVID-19 dimensions were linked to psychotic experiences among university students, which may also apply to the larger population. This can potentially inform assessment and treatment during the pandemic.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)148-152
Number of pages5
JournalSchizophrenia Research
Volume237
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2021

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus
  • Pandemic
  • Psychotic experiences

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Biological Psychiatry

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