Objective: This study examined the effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the mental health and well-being of college students residing in a rural community. Eligible students reported on their mental health statuses, coping strategies, distresses, demographics, and original items to capture students’ experiences. Participants: Participants were 372 undergraduate and graduate student's living in residence halls or on-campus housing enrolled in a public university between January and March 2021. Methods: Univariate and bivariate statistical analyses were utilized. Open-text responses about navigating mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic are summarized. Results: Students who identified as LGBTQ+ (pp=0.0022) scored significantly higher in depressive symptoms, while year in school, race, or ethnicity did not appear to play a role in overall mental health status. Conclusion: This study can be used to help enhance current mental health services offered on-campus, especially for students who face higher burden of mental health risks.
","abstract_html":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study examined the effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the mental health and well-being of college students residing in a rural community. Eligible students reported on their mental health statuses, coping strategies, distresses, demographics, and original items to capture students’ experiences. <strong>Participants: </strong>Participants were 372 undergraduate and graduate student's living in residence halls or on-campus housing enrolled in a public university between January and March 2021.<strong> Methods: </strong>Univariate and bivariate statistical analyses were utilized. Open-text responses about navigating mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic are summarized.<strong> Results: </strong>Students who identified as LGBTQ+ (<em>p</em>p=0.0022) scored significantly higher in depressive symptoms, while year in school, race, or ethnicity did not appear to play a role in overall mental health status. <strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study can be used to help enhance current mental health services offered on-campus, especially for students who face higher burden of mental health risks.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Writer, Brooke"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Public Health (MPH)","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Health Sciences","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Tishra Beeson","Amie Wojtyna","Casey Mace-Firebaugh"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2021,"date_issued":"2021-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2021-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:37:54Z","subjects":["mental health","COVID-19","college students","Community Health and Preventive Medicine","Public Health","Public Health Education and Promotion"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1513","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Tishra Beeson","Amie Wojtyna","Casey Mace-Firebaugh"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Writer, Brooke"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2026-06-10T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Text"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Health Sciences"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Public Health (MPH)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["mental health","COVID-19","college students","Community Health and Preventive Medicine","Public Health","Public Health Education and Promotion"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1513"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Objective: This study examined the effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the mental health and well-being of college students residing in a rural community. Eligible students reported on their mental health statuses, coping strategies, distresses, demographics, and original items to capture students’ experiences. Participants: Participants were 372 undergraduate and graduate student's living in residence halls or on-campus housing enrolled in a public university between January and March 2021. Methods: Univariate and bivariate statistical analyses were utilized. Open-text responses about navigating mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic are summarized. Results: Students who identified as LGBTQ+ (pp=0.0022) scored significantly higher in depressive symptoms, while year in school, race, or ethnicity did not appear to play a role in overall mental health status. Conclusion: This study can be used to help enhance current mental health services offered on-campus, especially for students who face higher burden of mental health risks.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Mental Health Risks & Patterns Among On-Campus Resident Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Tishra Beeson","Amie Wojtyna","Casey Mace-Firebaugh"],"dc:creator":["Writer, Brooke"],"dc:date.available":["2026-06-10T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Objective: This study examined the effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the mental health and well-being of college students residing in a rural community. Eligible students reported on their mental health statuses, coping strategies, distresses, demographics, and original items to capture students’ experiences. Participants: Participants were 372 undergraduate and graduate student's living in residence halls or on-campus housing enrolled in a public university between January and March 2021. Methods: Univariate and bivariate statistical analyses were utilized. Open-text responses about navigating mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic are summarized. Results: Students who identified as LGBTQ+ (pp=0.0022) scored significantly higher in depressive symptoms, while year in school, race, or ethnicity did not appear to play a role in overall mental health status. Conclusion: This study can be used to help enhance current mental health services offered on-campus, especially for students who face higher burden of mental health risks.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1513"],"dc:subject":["mental health","COVID-19","college students","Community Health and Preventive Medicine","Public Health","Public Health Education and Promotion"],"dc:title":["Mental Health Risks & Patterns Among On-Campus Resident Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic"],"dc:type":["Text"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Health Sciences"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Public Health (MPH)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:37:54Z"}