COVID-19 Pandemic Stress and Resilience in Female College Students: A Multicase Study of Enrollment Formats

• In Event: Stress and Coping in Postsecondary Contexts During COVID-19

Abstract

This multicase study explored stress and resilience of female college students between in-person and online enrollments, and with and without mental health diagnoses, at early and later stages of the pandemic. The three cases—Spring 2020 in-person, Spring 2020 online, and Spring 2021 online enrollments—included 32 undergraduate female students (Mage = 23.75) from a midwestern university. Participants completed two surveys, four weeks apart, quantitatively and qualitatively assessing stressors, stress levels, and resilience. Across cases, the most reported stressors in Time 1/Time2 were school (25.83%/26.36%), family (16.67%/18.33%), and lifestyle (16.67%/15.00%). Students with mental health diagnoses perceived more stressors, especially at the pandemic onset, than those without diagnoses. Findings were interpreted using cross-case analysis, showing significant roles of enrollment formats.

Authors

• Tsz Lun Chu, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

• Betty A. Rose-Ackley, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay