College Students’ Stress Responses and Anxiety During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic

Oct 15, 2026

Study examines emerging adult college students’ generalized anxiety and stress-related physiological and depressive responses at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on ecological risk and resiliency factors. A second aim compares domestic versus international students’ stress sources, social supports, stress responses, and generalized anxiety. Findings report elevated generalized anxiety and depressive symptoms. Differences emerge between groups in generalized anxiety, dating frustrations, and physiological stress responses, with multiple regressions run for physiological responses, depression, and generalized anxiety.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time43 min

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Abstract

Literature Review

Emerging Adulthood and Developmental Context

COVID-19 Implications on Emerging Adults

COLLEGE STUDENTS’ STRESS RESPONSES AND ANXIETY DURING THE 2020 COVID-19 PANDEMIC Neda Moinolmolki, Ph. D. Albertus Magnus College Abstract The purpose of this current study was twofold: first, to identify the potential ecological risk and resiliency factors that contribute to emerging adult college students’generalized anxiety, as well as physiological and depressive responses to stress during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic; second, to compare domestic and international college students’ sources of stress, social supports, stress responses, and generalized anxiety. Results indicated elevated levels of generalized anxiety and depressive symptoms. Significant differences between international and domestic students were found in generalized anxiety, dating frustrations, and physiological responses to stress. Three separate multiple regressions on physiological responses to stress, depression, and generalized anxiety were conducted. Results and implications will be discussed. Keywords: COVID-19, college students, international students, stress, anxiety, social support Please direct inquires about this manuscript to: Neda Moinolmolki, Ph.D., [nmoinolmolki@albertus.edu](nmoinolmolki@albertus.edu) College Student Affairs Journal, Volume 41(1), pp. 14-30 ISSN 2381-2338 Copyright 2023 Southern Association for College Student Affairs All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 15 College Student Affairs Journal Vol. 41, No. 1, 2023 sponses to stress during the COVID-19 pandemic; second, to compare the perceptions of domestic and international college students’ sources of stress, social supports, stress responses, and generalized anxiety. Literature Review Although emerging adults appear to be less vulnerable to the physiological complications of COVID-19, they are not immune to the economic and psychological impacts of the pandemic ata time in which they are facing their own developmental challenges in their transitions to adulthood (Wang et al., 2020) . Emerging adulthood is recognized as a developmental period of the life span between adolescence and adulthood, in which individuals residing in industrialized countries are likely to be exploring their identities, undergoing numerous transitions, and experiencing a sense of both possibility and instability (Arnett, 2007). This is a period when many individuals feelin between, in which they are starting to achieve some level of independence but still haven’t taken on all the responsibilities of adulthood (e.g., stable job, marriage, and parenthood; Arnett, 2007) . Emerging adulthood was first coined by Arnett in 2000 in response to the social and economic changes inherent within industrial societies (e.g., longer years of schooling, and delays in marriage) . It is recognized to last between the ages of 17 to the late 20s, with the end being characterized as a period in which individuals are able to live independently, establish long-term relationships, and have clear career pathways (Arnett, 2007) . As individuals are pursuing their educations for longer periods of time and marrying at later ages, scholars are starting to push the end of this distinctive developmental period closer to the age of 30 (Arnett, 2007); researchers have started to include 30-year-olds in their study samples onemerging adults (King et al., 2012) . College students represent a significant proportion of emerging adult populations in the U.S. COVID-19 Implications on Emerging Adults (Hanson, 2021) . Today, more emerging adult Americans are entering college than ever before, experiencing increased academic pressures, demands, stress, as well as mental health disorders (American College Health Association, 2019) . Emerging adults are an important population to investigate since the onset of most mental health disorders tends to happen during this time (Auerbach et al., 2016) . Not only are they faced with heightened levels of psychological distress due to their transition into

FAQs

What was the study’s main purpose regarding COVID-19?

The study aimed to identify risk and resiliency factors related to emerging adult college students’ generalized anxiety and their physiological and depressive stress responses during the early COVID-19 pandemic period.

How did the researchers compare domestic and international students?

They compared both groups’ sources of stress, social supports, stress responses, and levels of generalized anxiety.

What key results were reported about anxiety and stress-related symptoms?

Results showed elevated generalized anxiety and depressive symptoms. Significant differences between international and domestic students were found for generalized anxiety, dating frustrations, and physiological responses to stress.

Oct 15, 2026

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