ERIC Number: EJ1448308
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0744-8481
EISSN: EISSN-1940-3208
Exploring Reddit Conversations about Mental Health Difficulties among College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Candelaria Garcia; Jeovanna Amador Ayala; Kate Diaz Roldan; Niloofar Bavarian
Journal of American College Health, v72 n8 p2419-2425 2024
Objective: We aimed to explore conversations about mental health difficulties by Reddit users who posted within college subreddits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: Data were collected from the subreddits of 22 California campuses, representing 113,579 anonymous members. Using the following search terms, we retrieved 577 posts (i.e., 268 original posts and 309 replies): COVID, Coronavirus, Quarantine, Pandemic, Anxiety, Anxious, Depressed, Depression, Overwhelmed, Stress, and Stressed. Methods: We used inductive, thematic data analysis to explore themes within posts and replies dated from 3/16/2020 to 3/16/2021. Results: We identified the following themes: 1) the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted engagement with learning; 2) remote learning has exacerbated students' mental health difficulties; and 3) students provide and receive social support online. Conclusions: These findings have implications that are particularly relevant as campuses are faced with continuous decisions related to repopulation.
Descriptors: Social Media, Computer Mediated Communication, COVID-19, Pandemics, Mental Health, Mental Disorders, College Students, Search Strategies, Information Retrieval, Anxiety, Depression (Psychology), Stress Variables, Learner Engagement, Barriers, Learning Processes, Distance Education, Student Attitudes, Social Support Groups
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (DHHS/PHS); National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) (DHHS/NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1R15DA04445801A1; 5UL1GM118979; 5TL4GM118980; 5RL5GM118978; 8UL1GM11897902