@article{ref1,
title="Disentangling depression in Belgian higher education students amidst the first COVID-19 lockdown (April-May 2020)",
journal="Archives of public health",
year="2021",
author="Wouters, Edwin and Van Hal, Guido F. and Bracke, Piet and Van de Velde, Sarah and Buffel, Veerle and De Man, Jeroen",
volume="79",
number="1",
pages="e3-e3",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The surge of COVID-19 infections has prompted many countries to take unprecedented policy measures. In Belgium, the authorities implemented a nation-wide  stay-at-home order for several months. Evidence of the mental health effect of such  measures is scarce. A recent review by Brooks et al. has compiled a defined list of  stressors affecting people's mental health under quarantine during previous epidemic  settings. This study aims to test the association between these stressors and the  mental health of students attending higher education during the stay-at-home order  in Belgium. <br><br>METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 18,301 students from 13 higher  education institutions (HEI) participated in an online survey between 26 April and  11 May 2020. We assessed the association between potential stressors and depressive  symptoms severity scores and structural equation modeling was used to assess how  stressors may mediate the association between duration of exposure and depressive  symptoms severity. <br><br>RESULTS: The stressors proposed by Brooks et al. were found to be  associated with depressive symptoms severity. The stressors 'perceived academic  stress', 'institutional dissatisfaction' and 'fear of being infected' were  associated with substantially higher depressive symptoms severity scores. The  association between duration of exposure and depressive symptoms severity was  mediated by 'academic stress'. Being in a steady relationship and living together  with others were both associated with a lower depressive symptoms severity. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Findings underline the need for a student-centered approach and mental  health prevention. Authorities and HEIs should consider whether and if so, how a  stay-at-home order should be implemented.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0778-7367",
doi="10.1186/s13690-020-00522-y",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13690-020-00522-y"
}