6.2.1. Demographic Factors

One of the main goals of our study was to identify the factors that increase the probability of a higher intensity of emotional distress in the group of students (Supplementary Table S8).

Among the demographic factors associated with an increased intensity of the emotional response in the study group were female sex (OR = 3.01, 95% CI: 2.15–4.22) and science as a field of study (OR = 2.04, 95% CI: 0.99–4.19).

#### 6.2.2. The Most Difficult Problem during the Pandemic

The respondents were asked to choose from the nine situations the only one that in the moment of the outbreak of the pandemic and through the first weeks was the most difficult for them. Students who choose 'loneliness' as the most difficult were observed to reach the highest level of overall emotional distress (Me = 52.00 ± 26.01), depression (Me = 20.00 ± 11.33), anxiety (Me = 8.00 ± 8.37), and stress (Me = 22.00 ± 10.41) measured by the DASS-21. Taking into consideration the intensity of the total DASS scores, the respondents who chose 'radical change in style and way of life' (Me = 35.00 ± 28.43) as the second one in ranking and the third as 'isolation' (Me = 34.00 ± 27.53) ex aequo with 'financial instability' (Me = 34.00 ± 27.64). In case of level of depression and stress, second were 'radical change in style and way of

life' (depression: Me = 12.00 ± 11.27, stress: Me = 18.00 ± 11.25) and 'isolation' (depression: Me = 12.00 ± 10.24, stress: Me = 18.00 ± 11.33). With regards to the anxiety subscale, the 'fear of their own risk of infection illness, death' (Me = 6.00 ± 10.09), 'fear of infection of the loved ones' (Me = 6.00 ± 7.67), and "financial instability' (Me = 6.00 ± 8.31) were associated with the highest levels of anxiety. In total DASS and all subscales the differences between the groups were statistically significant—DASS-21 (H = 87.51, *p* < 0.001), depression (H = 106.68, *p* < 0.001), anxiety (H = 53.83, *p* < 0.001), stress (H = 74.58, *p* < 0.001) (Supplementary Tables S2, S2.2, S2.3, and S2.4). The increased feeling of loneliness was related to 292-fold higher odds of developing higher overall emotional distress (OR = 292, 95% CI: 15.77–5454.92).

### 6.2.3. Suffering from Chronic Diseases

In the case of the concomitant chronic diseases, the highest scores of overall emotional distress (Me = 58.00 ± 29.26), depression (Me = 20.00 ± 11.25), stress (Me = 24.00 ± 11.67), and anxiety (Me = 12.00 ± 11.68) were observed in people with mental disorders. The suffering from any chronic diseases was associated with the occurrence of overall emotional disorders in DASS-21 above the cut-off score. The presence of psychiatric disorders was significantly associated with a higher level of overall emotional distress (z = 4.831, *p* < 0.001), depression, (z = 4.424, *p* < 0.001) anxiety (z = 4.148, *p* = 0.001), and stress (z = 4.142, *p* = 0.001), compared to the respondents without any chronic diseases (Supplementary Tables S3, S3.2, S3.3, and S3.4). Students suffering from psychiatric disorders were almost six times more likely to exaggerate their emotional responses than those who had no mental health problems (OR = 5.89, 95% CI: 1.70–20.27). The usage of any supplements or medication to improve subject immunity did not correlate with the results of the DASS-21.
