COVID-19-Related Variables and Its Association with Anxiety and Suicidal Ideation: Differences Between International and Local University Students in Taiwan

Abstract

Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu,1,* Iqbal Pramukti,2,* Carol Strong,3 Hsiao-Wen Wang,4 Mark D Griffiths,5 Chung-Ying Lin,3,6– 8 Nai-Ying Ko9 1Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong; 2Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, West Java, Indonesia; 3Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; 4Department of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan; 5International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK; 6Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; 7Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; 8Biostatistics Consulting Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; 9Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Chung-Ying LinInstitute of Allied Health Sciences and Departments of Occupational Therapy and Public Health, Biostatistics Consulting Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan, 701, TaiwanTel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [email protected]: Nai-Ying KoDepartment of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan, 701, TaiwanTel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [email protected]: The present study examined the differences between international and local university students in Taiwan regarding COVID-19-related variables, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.Participants and Methods: An online cross-sectional survey (sent via an online link in an email) was carried out comprising university students (n=529). The students were assessed on measures (including validated psychometric instruments) of perceived susceptibility to COVID-19, perceived sufficiency of resources, sources of COVID-19 information, perceived satisfaction with support, anxiety and suicidal ideation.Results: Local students had higher susceptibility to COVID-19 (p< 0.001) but decreased sufficiency with resources (p< 0.001) and anxiety (p< 0.001) compared with international students. Staying with family members, satisfaction with support, and information seeking were the factors that predicted anxiety among international students (all p-values< 0.05), while information seeking predicted local students’ anxiety (p< 0.001). Furthermore, staying with family members, susceptibility to COVID-19, and sufficiency with resources were the factors that predicted suicidal ideation among international students (all p-values< 0.05), while being a male and satisfaction with support predicted suicidal ideation among local students (all p-values< 0.05).Conclusion: International students displayed different COVID-19-related challenges compared with local students. More specifically, international students as compared with local students had lower susceptibility to COVID-19 and higher anxiety. Therefore, healthcare providers should pay more attention to international students’ psychological health and awareness regarding impacts of COVID-19 on health.Keywords: anxiety, COVID-19, university students, suicidal ideation, Taiwan

Keywords

• anxiety
• covid-19
• university students
• suicidal ideation
• taiwan