Mind–Body Health in Crisis: A Survey of How Students Cared for Themselves Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The focus on college students’ mental and physical health is steadily increasing with more students reporting concern and need for services. This study investigates the results of college students’ utilization of mind–body health activities and services in the wake of COVID-19. As part of a larger research study on college wellbeing, a survey completed by 557 college students between May and August of 2020 assessed student’s use of mind–body health strategies. To examine differences in mind–body health (MBH) service and activity usage before and during COVID-19 campus closures, paired t-tests were used, while one-way ANOVAs were used to determine differences based on demographic variables. Findings across MBH service and activity use during campus closures were variable, with use differing based on a variety of factors including gender, socioeconomic background, age, and race, as well as the participant’s personal prior history of services. These findings provide insight into what services students accessed during the lockdown period to aid university health systems with recommended guidance and resources.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• mind–body health
• higher education
• college wellbeing