Research highlight
The COVID-19 Aftermath Volume II: Lessons learned
Chapter 3: The Impact of COVID-Related Restrictions on the Mental Health of Students
Peter R Reuter
The first stage of the COVID pandemic in spring and early summer of 2020 was shaped by restrictions due to the so-called flattening-the-curve approach. Students globally were impacted when public and private colleges and universities were forced to either shut down temporarily or transition to remote learning. Studies from around the world found increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Female students often reported being more affected than male students. Suicide rates, however, did not increase. The second stage, starting in late summer 2020, saw the highest case numbers but also a slow and mostly partial return to normal life enabled by vaccination efforts and policy decisions. The mental health of students in most countries recovered well, even when they had to go through repeated or continued lockdowns or restrictions. Although it cannot be predicted what portion of students will be affected by mental health issues in ten or twenty years, it is certain that there will be long-term mental health consequences for many. It is also uncertain which approach, “living with COVID” or “zero COVID,” will show less impact on the mental health of students’ long term.
Chapter 3: The Impact of COVID-Related Restrictions on the Mental Health of Students
Peter R Reuter
The first stage of the COVID pandemic in spring and early summer of 2020 was shaped by restrictions due to the so-called flattening-the-curve approach. Students globally were impacted when public and private colleges and universities were forced to either shut down temporarily or transition to remote learning. Studies from around the world found increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Female students often reported being more affected than male students. Suicide rates, however, did not increase. The second stage, starting in late summer 2020, saw the highest case numbers but also a slow and mostly partial return to normal life enabled by vaccination efforts and policy decisions. The mental health of students in most countries recovered well, even when they had to go through repeated or continued lockdowns or restrictions. Although it cannot be predicted what portion of students will be affected by mental health issues in ten or twenty years, it is certain that there will be long-term mental health consequences for many. It is also uncertain which approach, “living with COVID” or “zero COVID,” will show less impact on the mental health of students’ long term.
Religion still impacts Gen Z's sexual behavior
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Religion has been, and still is, one of the major forces of control over sexuality. The Judeo-Christian faiths practiced by many in the U.S. typically are against premarital sex, non-relationship sex (or casual sex), and cohabitation and emphasize remaining abstinent until marriage. Studies have found that religious behavior is a strong predictor of sexual behavior, with higher levels of devoutness correlated to a later age of first sexual experiences, fewer lifetime sex partners, and less engagement in casual sex.
Religious attitudes do not guarantee sexual abstinence before marriage in all cases. The percentage of religious Gen Z students in my survey who admitted to having engaged in sexual activity – oral, vaginal, or anal sex – already was 70% compared to 76% for their non-religious peers. The percentage of religious students who had engaged in sexual activity during the past 30 days was also slightly lower at 55% compared with 59% for non-religious students. The average number of sex partners over the last twelve months, however, was the same for both groups, with 2.5 for religious and 2.6 for non-religious respondents. Continue reading... |
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Don’t think you have a gender identity? Think again
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A freshman student participating in my survey ‘Why do students have sex?’ responded to the question ‘What is your gender identity?’ by writing, “I have no f****** gender identity. I AM a Male. That's what my body composition is, so it doesn't f****** matter what my "identity" is.”
While this student’s reaction certainly was influenced by and typical of the current backlash against the LGBTQ+ community in the U.S., not so long ago, many people would have expressed the same or a similar sentiment or wondered what gender identity was in the first place. A hundred years ago, the only use of the term ‘gender’ was in grammar, where it referred to grammatical categories that divide words into masculine, feminine, and neuter classes, mainly in languages such as German, French, Spanish, or Italian. Continue reading... |
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Linus Pauling – The man who birthed the vitamin C craze
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Without a shadow of a doubt, Linus Pauling was one of the most brilliant scientists and activists of the 20th century. He is notable for being one of the few individuals to receive two Nobel Prizes and still is the only person to receive two unshared Nobel Prizes: the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954 for his research into the nature of the chemical bond and its application to the elucidation of the structure of complex substances and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962 for his activism against nuclear weapons testing. Yet, Pauling's legacy is a complex one, marked by significant contributions to science and controversial stances in the field of health and nutrition, because he played a significant role in popularizing the concept of antioxidants and their potential health benefits. His influence in this area is mainly linked to his advocacy of high doses of vitamin C.
The first documented symptoms of vitamin C deficiency, which leads to scurvy, can be traced back to ancient times. The Ebers Papyrus, dating around 1550 BC, is one of the earliest records that accounts for a disease likely to be scurvy. It suggested the treatment of this disease with onions, which are known to contain small amounts of vitamin C. Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician often referred to as the 'father' of Western medicine, also described symptoms associated with scurvy around 400 BC. He noted characteristics such as foul breath, loose gums, and nosebleeds. Continue reading... |
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Getting drunk isn’t always just care-free fun
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The desire of undergraduate and graduate students for an enjoyable college experience, including partying and having a good time, is not a new phenomenon. (See also “Good times lead to good feelings” - Being out with friends encourages students to meet someone and engage in casual sex) College life is often associated with newfound freedom, independence, and the opportunity to socialize and form lasting friendships. In recent years, there has been increased awareness about the potential negative consequences of excessive partying, including issues related to mental health, alcohol consumption, and consent. This awareness may have led to more responsible behaviors on some campuses. Studies and surveys have also revealed that Gen Z tends to engage in less alcohol consumption compared to previous generations, such as the millennials, Generation X, and baby boomers. Therefore, it doesn’t come as a surprise that students’ descriptions of their drinking habits in responses submitted to my surveys don’t include stories of binge drinking or similar.
Continue reading... |
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© 2016-2024 Peter Reuter. All rights reserved.
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