Anxiety
Anxiety includes experiencing distressing situations, persisting anxiety, and dysfunctional behaviors. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, schoolwork, and relationships.
Symptoms
Types of Anxiety
Types of anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and various phobia-related disorders. (NIMH, 2023).
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): Involves a persistent feeling of anxiety or dread. People living with GAD experience frequent anxiety for months, if not years (NIMH, n.d).
How does Anxiety affect College Students?
Anxiety is one of most prominent mental health illnesses that affects college students. Both anxiety and depression constitute more than 40% of mental-health illnesses among young people (those aged 10–19).
Based on national statistics 39% of students in college experience a significant mental health issue. Being exposed to overwhelming stress for the first time and navigating being away from home can be potential risk factors.
UA Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic
The University of Arizona Campus Health administered a survey in early May of 2020.
The survey had a response rate of 7%, about 3,000 responses, within this survey 66% of students reported that their mental health had worsened because of COVID-19 (Moreno & Cohen, 2022). Numerous students had to make changes and accommodations to their academic plans.
The pandemic affected both undergraduates and graduate students. According to UA reports, one in four students reported experiencing “tremendous stress”. 89% of undergraduate students reported one or more symptoms of depression or anxiety within the last thirty days, compared to the average for the population which is around 18% (Moreno & Cohen, 2022).
Lastly, a graduate student reported deferring their graduate project as a result of experiencing anxiety and depression caused by the pandemic.