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Objective: This study assessed current education stage (i.e., undergraduate, graduate) as protective against depressive symptoms among a low socioeconomic status (SES) student population in a public university, in the context of COVID-19-related stressors. Participants: Participants were students at The City University of New York (CUNY) during the Spring 2020. Methods: Demographic data, symptom severity, and current educational stage were collected via an online university-wide survey between April 8, 2020 and May 2, 2020. Results: The prevalence of probable depression was lower amongst persons who reported being currently in a more advanced educational stage compared to people currently in a lower educational stage. COVID-19-related stressor exposure was the largest predictor of depressive symptoms, followed by demographics and current education stage. Conclusions: Current education stage is related to depressive symptoms during COVID-19. Pandemic-related educational disruptions and shifts to remote learning may limit educational achievement for low-SES student populations creating further threats to these students' health.

The COVID‐19 pandemic has detrimentally affected the mental health of lower income communities. We sought to investigate the relationship among multilevel social support, specifically individual‐, network‐, and neighborhood‐level social supports, COVID‐19‐related stressors, and probable diagnoses of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress (PTS), within a racially diverse and predominantly low‐socioeconomic status population. We used multiple logistic regressions to assess the odds of diagnosis for high versus low social support and stressor levels. Participants who endorsed high levels of stress had significantly higher odds of probable diagnoses. Participants who endorsed low individual‐level social support had higher odds of probable depression and anxiety. Those who endorsed low neighborhood‐level social support had higher odds of probable depression and probable PTS. Network‐level social support was not significantly associated with the health indicators of interest. Results indicate the importance of both individual‐ and neighborhood‐level support to protect mental health during COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study explored correlates of increased alcohol use among a predominantly low-socioeconomic status student population at two time points during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: Participants were students enrolled in at least one course at a City University of New York (CUNY) campus. Methods: Demographic characteristics, stressor endorsements, probable diagnoses, and alcohol use endorsement, were collected via self-report surveys in April and July 2020. Frequencies and multivariable logistic regressions were computed to assess for prevalence and odds of increased alcohol consumption. Results: High cumulative stress was significantly related to increased alcohol use in both April and July 2020. A greater number of specific stressors was associated with increased alcohol use in April as compared to July. Probable diagnoses of depression and anxiety were associated with higher odds of alcohol consumption at both time points. Conclusion: Findings highlight the importance of stress and mental health on increases in alcohol use for public university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perceived coping and its two subprocesses, trauma-focused coping (finding meaning in the details and memory of a potential trauma or stressor) and forward-focused coping (focusing on planning for the future) have been shown to be important in the context of potentially traumatic events. The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated stressors have negatively impacted population mental health, and preliminary investigations have demonstrated the importance of perceived abilities to cope during the pandemic. The current study sought to examine the potentially moderating role of each subprocess on the relationship between stress and anxiety symptoms in a low-income student sample during COVID-19 (N = 2364). We computed two hierarchical multiple linear regressions to assess for significant interactions between stress and perceived coping subprocess scores on anxiety outcomes. Our results demonstrated that both trauma-focused coping and forward-focused coping served as effect modifiers in the relationship between COVID-19related stress and anxiety. Such findings highlight the importance of interventions that incorporate both forms of coping for low-income students during a chronic stressor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health disparities in the aftermath of national disasters and the protective role of socioeconomic status are both well documented. We assessed the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms among underresourced public university students during the COVID‐19 pandemic in New York City. Between April 8, 2020, and May 2, 2020, adult students (N = 1,821) across the CUNY system completed an online survey examining COVID‐19–related stressors and mental health and sociodemographic factors. Using multivariable logistical regression to assess the association between COVID‐19–related stressors and depression and anxiety symptoms, we found a high prevalence and severity of depression and anxiety symptoms. We also observed that more exposure to COVID‐19–related stressors was associated with increased depressive (27.0%, 41.4%, and 63.1% for low‐, medium‐, and high‐level stressors, respectively) and anxiety symptoms (19.3%, 34.6%, 52.2%). In addition, the degree of exposure to COVID‐19–related stressors served as an important predictor of depression and anxiety symptoms. Compared to high levels of stressors, the odds of depression were 0.2, 95% CI [0.2, 0.3] for low‐ and 0.4, 95% CI [0.3, 0.5] for medium‐level stressors; for anxiety, the odds were 0.2, 95% CI [0.2, 0.3] for low and 0.05, 95% CI [0.4, 0.6] for medium stressors. Finally, household savings of less than $5,000 increased the risk of anxiety but not depression symptoms, OR = 1.3, 95% CI [1.0,1.6]. Together, these findings tell a devastating story of psychological distress among students from lower socioeconomic groups living in the COVID‐19 epicenter of the U.S. pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Patient‐reported outcomes have received increased attention as treatment outcomes and indicators of wellbeing. A1c has been criticized as lacking patient‐centered relevance because individuals are often unaware of their A1c, and studies also often fail to show a benefit of intensive control on quality of life. The goal of the present study was to examine self‐rated health (SRH) in relation to diabetes self‐care behaviors, socioeconomic factors, treatment regimen characteristics, and glycemic control among predominately Hispanic and African American adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods: Adolescents with T1D (N = 84) were recruited for a cross‐sectional study evaluating psychosocial factors and identity development. SRH, self‐care behaviors, treatment regimen, and demographic variables were collected through self‐report while glycemic control (A1c) was determined through chart review. Results: Participants were predominantly racial and ethnic minorities (48% Hispanic, 27% African American; 52% female, M age 15.9, M diabetes duration 6.8, M A1c 10% [86 mmol/mol]). Significant bivariate relationships emerged between SRH and sex, A1c, self‐care behavior, and insulin delivery method. Covariate‐adjusted regression models showed only A1c was significantly and independently related to SRH. Mediation analyses illustrated a significant indirect effect for A1c between self‐care and SRH. Conclusion: These findings suggest glycemic control is associated with self‐ratings of health among ethnically diverse adolescents with T1D. SRH appears to be an appropriate patient‐reported outcome that is sensitive to glycemic control in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Material and social stressors are both well-documented contributors to the onset of psychiatric symptoms. This relationship has not yet been investigated within the context of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and within low-income and racially/ethnically diverse urban student populations, who are facing increased stress., Method: Via an online survey, this study assessed material and social stressors and symptom endorsements for depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress (PTS), within a public university student sample at two time points, April 8 through May 2, 2020; n = 2,925; and July 9 through July 31, 2020; n = 1,073; during the pandemic., Results: Multivariate regression analyses assessed the relationship between each diagnostic symptom category and stressor category scores. Analyses yielded stronger associations for total social stressor score and probable anxiety (β = .695, SE = .046, p < .001 in April, β = .730, SE = .085, p < .001 in July), probable depression (β = .655, SE = .045, p < .001 in April, β = .676, SE = .080, p < .001 in July) and probable PTS (β = .587, SE = .045, p < .001 in April, β = .687, SE = .083, p < .001 in July), compared with total material stressor scores, total material and social stressor scores., Conclusion: Such findings highlight the burden of both stressor types, but particularly social stress, on psychological health for underresourced students, and emphasize the need for targeted interventions that increase social assets. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).