Distress of tertiary education students in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective: This project sought to characterize levels of distress in Australian tertiary education students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Advertisements were placed on multiple participant recruitment and student run websites associated with various tertiary institutions. Level of overall distress was assessed with the K-10 so that comparisons could be made with previous research. A total of 1072 tertiary education students 18 years or older participated in the study.

Results: 70.9% of tertiary education students studying in Australia displayed elevated levels of psychological distress during the pandemic, with 23.01% of the sample reporting extreme levels of distress.

Conclusions: More tertiary education students experienced severe distress during the COVID-19 pandemic than adults in the general population, as well as before the pandemic.

Implications: Services are needed to help tertiary education students cope with elevated levels of distress associated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: Australia; COVID-19; at risk persons; mental health; pandemic; tertiary education.