Factors associated with greater risk of negative impacts include the amount of time students spend on screens each day, their gender, age, and other characteristics, the researchers report.

“WE WANT STUDENTS TO KNOW IT’S OK TO ASK FOR HELP. WE WANT THEM TO REACH OUT TO GET SUPPORT. WE WANT THEM TO KNOW: YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO AT IT ALONE.”

Research has shown many college students faced significant mental health challenges going into the COVID-19 pandemic, and experts say the pandemic has added new stressors. The new findings in PLOS ONE could help experts tailor services to better support students.

Researchers drew the observational study from a survey of more than 2,100 undergraduate and graduate students in the spring of 2020, when the students at all the universities included in the study had shifted to studying remotely.

“The pandemic is problematic for everyone, and we know that it’s especially problematic for students who are eager to experience the unique social atmosphere that college life has to offer,” says coauthor Lincoln Larson, associate professor of parks, recreation, and tourism management at North Carolina State University. “COVID-19 has thrown a wrench into all of that. Our study found the pandemic is clearly taking a significant psychological toll on students.”

Read the full article about screen time and mental health links by Laura Oleniacz at Futurity.