Christophe Debien, Stéphane Duhem, Sylvie Molenda, Emilie Veerapa, Enguerrand Habran, Fabien D'Hondt, Marielle Wathelet, Charles-Edouard Notredame, Guillaume Vaiva, Mathilde Horn, Pierre Grandgenèvre, Thierry Baubet, Lille Neurosciences & Cognition - U 1172 (LilNCog), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Université de Lille-Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire [Lille] (CHRU Lille), CHU Lille, Fédération régionale de la recherche en psychiatrie et santé mentale Hauts-de-France [Lille] ( F2RSM Psy), Centre National de Ressources et de Résilience [Lille] (CN2R), Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire [Lille] (CHRU Lille), Centre d'Investigation Clinique - Innovation Technologique de Lille - CIC 1403 - CIC 9301 (CIC Lille), Hôpital Fontan, Service de psychopathologie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent, psychiatrie générale [Avicenne], Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (AP-HP)-Hôpital Avicenne [AP-HP], Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (AP-HP)-Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Centre de recherche en épidémiologie et santé des populations (CESP), Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (AP-HP)-Hôpital Paul Brousse-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Université Paris-Saclay, and Fédération Hospitalière de France (FHF)
Key Points Question What is the mental health state of university students in France who were confined during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and what factors are associated with the development of mental health symptoms? Findings This survey study of 69 054 students who experienced quarantine found high prevalence rates of severe self-reported mental health symptoms. Among risk factors identified, female or nonbinary gender, problems with income or housing, history of psychiatric follow-up, symptoms compatible with COVID-19, social isolation, and low quality of information received were associated with altered mental health. Meaning The findings of this study suggest that students’ mental health is a public health issue that has become even more critical in the context of a pandemic, underlining the need to reinforce prevention, surveillance, and access to care., This survey study measures the prevalence of self-reported mental health symptoms, identifies associated factors, and assesses care seeking among university students in France who experienced quarantine during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic., Importance The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and quarantine measures have raised concerns regarding their psychological effects on populations. Among the general population, university students appear to be particularly susceptible to experiencing mental health problems. Objectives To measure the prevalence of self-reported mental health symptoms, to identify associated factors, and to assess care seeking among university students who experienced the COVID-19 quarantine in France. Design, Setting, and Participants This survey study collected data from April 17 to May 4, 2020, from 69 054 students living in France during the COVID-19 quarantine. All French universities were asked to send an email to their students asking them to complete an online questionnaire. The targeted population was approximately 1 600 000 students. Exposure Living in France during the COVID-19 quarantine. Main Outcomes and Measures The rates of self-reported suicidal thoughts, severe distress, stress, anxiety, and depression were assessed using the 22-item Impact of Events Scale–Revised, the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale, the 20-item State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (State subscale), and the 13-item Beck Depression Inventory, respectively. Covariates were sociodemographic characteristics, precariousness indicators (ie, loss of income or poor quality housing), health-related data, information on the social environment, and media consumption. Data pertaining to care seeking were also collected. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors. Results A total of 69 054 students completed the survey (response rate, 4.3%). The median (interquartile range) age was 20 (18-22) years. The sample was mainly composed of women (50 251 [72.8%]) and first-year students (32 424 [47.0%]). The prevalence of suicidal thoughts, severe distress, high level of perceived stress, severe depression, and high level of anxiety were 11.4% (7891 students), 22.4% (15 463 students), 24.7% (17 093 students), 16.1% (11 133 students), and 27.5% (18 970 students), respectively, with 29 564 students (42.8%) reporting at least 1 outcome, among whom 3675 (12.4%) reported seeing a health professional. Among risk factors identified, reporting at least 1 mental health outcome was associated with female gender (odds ratio [OR], 2.10; 95% CI, 2.02-2.19; P