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Changing Social Mentality among University Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Five-Wave Longitudinal Study in China

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  • Jingjing Zhao

    (School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
    School of Marxism, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China)

  • Mengyu Yan

    (School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China)

  • Bingbing Fan

    (Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China)

  • Yueyang Zhang

    (School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
    Harvard College Association for US-China Relations (HCAUSCR), Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 021382, USA)

  • Anwar Oguz

    (School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China)

  • Yuying Wang

    (School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China)

  • Juzhe Xi

    (Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), Positive Education China Academy, Juzhe Xi’s Master Workroom of Shanghai School Mental Health Service, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China)

Abstract

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant shifts in university students’ lives, which could be displayed by social mentality, a psychosocial conception at the individual and social levels. This five-wave longitudinal study aims to evaluate the changing social mentality of university students during the peak and preventive-order phases of the pandemic in China and investigate the trends and differences in social-demographic variables. (2) Methods: The Bi-Dimensional Structure Questionnaire of Social Mentality (B-DSMQ) was used to collect data from March 2020 to January 2021. Five-wave surveys were administered to 1319 students from five universities using online questionnaires. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the changes in social mentality over time and covariate groups. Linear mixed models were used to explore the associations of overall social mentality with time and covariates. Post hoc analysis was implemented within subgroups, including university, major, grade, parenting style, and the harmonious degree of parents. (3) Results: Students’ social mentality changed significantly from Waves 1 to 5 ( p < 0.001). It fell to its lowest in the third survey, increased in the fourth survey, and peaked in the fifth survey. In all of the subgroups, the changing social mentality differed significantly over time ( p < 0.001). The p -values between groups suggested that changing social mentality was significantly different regarding gender, residence, university, major, grade, student cadre, graduates, nuclear family, economic status, parenting styles, and the harmonious degree of parents’ relationship ( p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: Social mentality among university students decreased during the peak of the pandemic before increasing in the contained-risk period. It was the lowest in June when students began to return to the pandemic-preventive campus from quarantined homes. Students living in provinces (except for Shandong) who were from high-level universities in 2016 and 2017 and who majored in medicine displayed a more negative social mentality. Students who were female, student cadres, non-graduates, and enjoying high socioeconomic status displayed a more positive social mentality. Further research is needed on the relationship between mental health and social mentality, specifically the associates and interventions for positive social mentality.

Suggested Citation

  • Jingjing Zhao & Mengyu Yan & Bingbing Fan & Yueyang Zhang & Anwar Oguz & Yuying Wang & Juzhe Xi, 2022. "Changing Social Mentality among University Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Five-Wave Longitudinal Study in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-19, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:5:p:3049-:d:764873
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    1. Tomasz Wieczorek & Agata Kołodziejczyk & Marta Ciułkowicz & Julian Maciaszek & Błażej Misiak & Joanna Rymaszewska & Dorota Szcześniak, 2021. "Class of 2020 in Poland: Students’ Mental Health during the COVID-19 Outbreak in an Academic Setting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Tetsuya Yamamoto & Chigusa Uchiumi & Naho Suzuki & Junichiro Yoshimoto & Eric Murillo-Rodriguez, 2020. "The Psychological Impact of ‘Mild Lockdown’ in Japan during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Survey under a Declared State of Emergency," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-19, December.
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    3. Zhen Liu & Guizhong Han & Jiajun Yan & Zhichao Liu & Mohamed Osmani, 2022. "The Relationship between Social Mentality and Health in Promoting Well-Being and Sustainable City," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-26, September.
    4. Bing Lin & Jiaxiu Liu & Wei He & Haiying Pan & Xiaoni Zhong, 2023. "Psychological Status of Men Who Have Sex with Men during COVID-19: An Online Cross-Sectional Study in Western China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-14, January.

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