Impact of COVID-19 on the psychological health of university students in Spain and their attitudes toward Mobile mental health solutions. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marques, Gonçalo; Drissi, Nidal; Díez, Isabel de la Torre; de Abajo, Beatriz Sainz; Ouhbi, Sofia
• Is Part Of: International journal of medical informatics. Volume 147(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- GHQ-12 -- Apps -- Mobile health -- Mental health -- Attitudes; Medical informatics -- Periodicals; Information science -- Periodicals; Computers -- Periodicals; Medical technology -- Periodicals; Medical Informatics -- Periodicals; Technology, Medical -- Periodicals; Computers; Information science; Medical informatics; Medical technology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 610.285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2020.104369
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1386-5056

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had an impact on several aspects of life, including university students' mental health. Mobile mental care applications (apps) comprise a form of online mental care that enables the delivery of remote mental care. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of university students in Spain and to explore their attitudes toward the use of mobile mental care apps. Method: Respondents answered a survey, which comprised two sections. The first included the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) that was employed to assess the students' mental health. The second section included six questions developed by the authors to explore the students' attitudes toward mental care apps. Results: The results showed that the students suffered from anxiety and depression as well as social dysfunction. Further, 91.3 % of the students had never used a mobile app for mental health, 36.3 % were unaware of such apps, and 79.2 % were willing to use them in the future. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the psychological health of university students. Mobile mental care apps may be an effective and efficient way to access mental care, particularly during a pandemic.