Psychological distress during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and associated factors among undergraduate students in Japan


 
 
 This cross-sectional study aimed to examine factors potentially associated with psychological distress among undergraduate students during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Japan.
 
 
 
 We analysed data of 958 undergraduates (median age 20 years; 56.8% women) from a web-based, self-administered questionnaire survey conducted from August to September 2020. Prevalence ratios (PRs) for psychological distress defined as 5 points or over of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) were calculated by Poisson regression models.
 
 
 
 The proportion of psychological distress was 40.0%. In the mutually-adjusted model, the following were significantly associated with psychological distress: decreases in household income to 50-99% of the pre-pandemic amount compared to no change (PR = 1.48), newly experiencing unpaid wages compared to no experience (PR = 1.44), insufficient money to buy necessities compared to no shortage (PR = 1.45), receiving a student loan or scholarship compared to none (PR = 1.27), and communication one to three times a month compared to at least once a week (PR = 1.22). In contrast, school closure during the pandemic compared to no closure was inversely associated with psychological distress (PR = 0.78).
 
 
 
 Among undergraduate students in Japan, economic difficulties significantly predicted psychological distress.
