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Wellbeing and Mental Health among Students
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Wellbeing and Mental Health among Students

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Behavioral and Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2024 | Viewed by 8151

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yura Loscalzo

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Guest Editor
Department of Health Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
Interests: clinical psychology; psychopathology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Marco Giannini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Firenze, 50135 Firenze, FI, Italy
Interests: psychotherapy research; projective techniques; psychological testing; defense mechanisms; studyholism; workaholism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Students’ mental health is receiving increasing interest, as research has demonstrated that problematic overstudying is associated with psychological, physical, social, and academic downsides. Moreover, mental health issues—such as depression and anxiety—are spread among university students, negatively impacting their academic performance. However, the literature suggests that these disorders typically have onset before the beginning of college. Hence, it is vital to further analyze the well-being of students across all school levels, aiming to foster their mental health and academic success as well as prevent school dropout, distress, and problematic overstudying behaviors. This analysis is even more critical after the COVID-19 outbreak, which lead to a disturbance of students’ lives and academic paths, potentially negatively impacting their well-being and academic success. 

Hence, through this Special Issue, we prompt research that analyzes the mental health and well-being of students across all school levels, including studies addressing clinical disorders, academic/school burnout, studyholism, study engagement, and other variables that might play a protective or harmful role in students' well-being (e.g., perfectionism, teachers’ and parents' attitudes toward studying). We also welcome review papers and case studies that address students’ well-being and mental health.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Behavioral Sciences.

Dr. Yura Loscalzo
Dr. Marco Giannini
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • studyholism
  • study engagement
  • academic burnout
  • school burnout
  • children
  • adolescents
  • youths
  • school
  • college
  • university

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 1802 KiB  
Article
Effects of a Participation in a Structured Writing Retreat on Doctoral Mental Health: An Experimental and Comprehensive Study
by Cynthia Vincent, Émilie Tremblay-Wragg and Isabelle Plante
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(20), 6953; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20206953 - 20 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1881
Abstract
Challenges faced by doctoral researchers led to a concerning “doctoral mental health crisis” within academia. Recognizing the pressing need to address mental health concerns, notably among doctoral students, the Quebec Ministry of Higher Education introduced the Higher Education Student Mental Health Action Plan [...] Read more.
Challenges faced by doctoral researchers led to a concerning “doctoral mental health crisis” within academia. Recognizing the pressing need to address mental health concerns, notably among doctoral students, the Quebec Ministry of Higher Education introduced the Higher Education Student Mental Health Action Plan 2021–2026. One potentially relevant intervention approach is the implementation of tailored structured writing retreats for graduate students. Aiming to measure and explain the effects of participating to a three-day writing retreat on doctoral mental health, this study followed an explanatory sequential mixed method, including an experimental design. One hundred doctoral researchers were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 50) or the waitlist control trial group (n = 50). Both groups answered a questionnaire comprising validated scales and open-ended questions at different timepoints, separated by a two-week gap. Results reveal that writing retreats reduced doctoral researchers’ psychological distress and improved their psychological, emotional, and social wellbeing. Among the multiple writing retreat aspects evaluated, only productivity experienced, as well as socialization/networking opportunities, acted as predictors for all doctoral mental health measures. Qualitative findings further supported the importance of perceived productivity and socialization/networking in promoting doctoral mental health. Recommendations are provided for fostering a supportive research work environment for doctoral researchers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing and Mental Health among Students)
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20 pages, 734 KiB  
Article
Predicting and Moderating COVID-Fear and Stress among College Students in Argentina and the USA
by Kenneth G. Rice, Fernán Arana, Hannah Wetstone, Michelle Aiello and Barbara Durán
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(15), 6510; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20156510 - 02 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1355
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected mental health worldwide and college students were particularly vulnerable to its adverse effects. This longitudinal study was designed to highlight and compare the COVID experiences of college students in Argentina and the USA (N = 361). Specifically, we [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected mental health worldwide and college students were particularly vulnerable to its adverse effects. This longitudinal study was designed to highlight and compare the COVID experiences of college students in Argentina and the USA (N = 361). Specifically, we examined individual factors (gender, emotional regulation, and social support) assessed prior to the pandemic for their role as predictors or moderators of COVID-fear and psychological stress during the first months of the pandemic. The results supported measurement invariance for brief measures of COVID-fear and indicated that, overall, COVID-fear was highest during the second wave of the study (March–April 2020), lowest during the third wave (June 2020), and then rose again during the fourth wave (September 2020). Several interaction effects emerged, revealing important country-level differences in COVID-fear effects for the emotion regulation and social support factors. More so in the Argentina sample than in the USA sample, higher levels of social support at Time 1 were associated with increases in the effect of COVID-fear on stress among students. We discussed the implications of these and other findings for future cross-cultural pandemic-related stress studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing and Mental Health among Students)
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17 pages, 1090 KiB  
Article
The Dynamic between Self-Efficacy and Emotional Exhaustion through Studyholism: Which Resources Could Be Helpful for University Students?
by Domenico Sanseverino, Danila Molinaro, Paola Spagnoli and Chiara Ghislieri
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(15), 6462; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20156462 - 27 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1361
Abstract
While university students have experienced increased stress, anxiety, and study obsession (studyholism) during the COVID-19 emergency, supportive university environments and academic self-efficacy (ASE) were found to be protective factors. However, the perception of overstudying could have impaired ASE’s protection against studyholism, akin to [...] Read more.
While university students have experienced increased stress, anxiety, and study obsession (studyholism) during the COVID-19 emergency, supportive university environments and academic self-efficacy (ASE) were found to be protective factors. However, the perception of overstudying could have impaired ASE’s protection against studyholism, akin to workaholism. Following the job-demands resource model, this contribution examines the moderating roles of study load and teaching staff support in the relationship between ASE and exhaustion, mediated by studyholism. 6736 students from 11 universities (69.8% females; Mean age 24.67 years) completed a self-report survey concerning various academic and life aspects. Results showed that ASE was partially mediated by studyholism in its negative relationship with exhaustion. Both study load and support moderate this relationship, although the interaction effect between studyholism and ASE is positive. Nonetheless, ASE plays a protective role for all levels of study load and support, while studyholism is confirmed to have a significant impact on exhaustion, both directly and through its mediating role. Considering the high scores of both studyholism and exhaustion in this sample, the enhancement of ASE should be complemented by teacher support centered around opportunities to review study strategies with the students and strong attention to preventive measures, such as in itinerant evaluation, which could enhance both the perception of positive support and strengthen ASE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing and Mental Health among Students)
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9 pages, 507 KiB  
Article
Assessing Physiological and Psychological Factors Contributing to Stress among Medical Students: Implications for Health
by Fawzia Al-Rouq, Alanoud Al-Otaibi, Alanoud AlSaikhan, Maha Al-Essa and Sarah Al-Mazidi
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16822; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416822 - 15 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2160
Abstract
Background: Physiological responses to stress disturb internal homeostasis, leading to serious health consequences. Medical students experience high stress levels that should be managed promptly to prevent stress-related impacts on students’ health and education. Aim: This study aims to identify the relationship between stress [...] Read more.
Background: Physiological responses to stress disturb internal homeostasis, leading to serious health consequences. Medical students experience high stress levels that should be managed promptly to prevent stress-related impacts on students’ health and education. Aim: This study aims to identify the relationship between stress factors, general health, and academic performance. Methods: This study recruited 421 medical students of all academic years. Participants completed an online survey assessing stress levels using a validated 10-item Perceived Stress Scale. Stress was also compared with students’ health and academic performance. Results: We found that 93.6% of our sample experienced moderate to severe stress, and 31% reported increased stress due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Except for internship students, stress significantly decreases as students progress each academic year (p < 0.05). Students with higher GPAs and with comorbidities are more stressed. Comorbidities were primarily reported in students in their final years of education with a 4% lower GPA than healthy students. Although we had three stress-related themes (general, academic, and pandemic), students’ perceptions of stress factors were primarily academically related. Conclusions: Students experience high stress levels in their final educational years, which might increase the risk of health issues and low academic performance. It is essential to innovate stress-coping strategies specially designed for medical students and mandatorily provided by all medical colleges and to educate students on the effects of stress on their health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing and Mental Health among Students)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Cumulative Trauma and Trauma Symptoms: A Three-Way Interaction
Authors: Fang Xue; Jeff Ashby
Affiliation: Georgia State University
Abstract: Aims: The purpose of this study was to test if perceived social support and self-compassion, as resources caravan (Hobfoll et al., 2016), will interact to have a buffering effect on the association between cumulative trauma and trauma symptoms after controlling for gender among college students. Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis using data from 497 participants collected in 2019 from undergraduate students at a large southern public school. Results: The moderated moderation model accounted for 37.72% of the variance in PTSD symptoms. A significant three-way interaction effect was found, suggesting that the association between cumulative trauma and PTSD symptoms was significantly buffered only when perceived social support and self-compassion were both at high levels; the association between cumulative trauma and PTSD symptoms was not significantly altered when only one of the two resources was at a high level. Conclusions: This study highlights the significance of resource caravans for the mitigating effects of PTSD symptoms in individuals with several traumatic experiences.

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