COVID-19, Race, and Student/Postdoctoral Fellow Mental Health Study
Principal Investigators: Drs. Robin Lanzi, Lisa Schwiebert, Angela Stowe
UAB Research Study Collaboration informs UAB about how to support student mental health and wellbeing.
The UAB School of Public Health, Student Counseling Services, and Graduate School are collaborating to conduct a comprehensive prevention-focused, multicomponent, coordinated, multisectoral and collaborative longitudinal mixed-methods study of the impact of COVID-19 and race on student mental health.
UAB is deeply committed to suicide prevention and supporting student mental health and wellbeing. Today’s college students are oftentimes referred to as the “anxious generation” with the increased use of social media and awareness about mental health. Sadly, 39% of students (i.e., 2 out of 5) in college experience a significant mental health issue with only 28% of youth with a major depressive episode receiving treatment. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among college students nationally.
Given the current state of affairs, we believe it is essential to reach out to our students and explore how they are doing, how they are coping, and what they need in order to be successful in pursuing their personal, academic, and career goals while attending UAB. Participants include undergraduate, graduate, and professional students as well as postdoctoral fellows.
The results of the research studies will inform administrators, leaders, student organizations, departments and faculty on campus about the experiences of students regarding COVID-19 and race and the impact of these experiences on student mental health. The results of this study will help UAB better understand how to support student mental health and wellbeing.
Phase 1: All Campus Survey (Summer 2020): Complete
During the summer of 2020, 1518 undergraduate, graduate and professional students and postdoctoral fellows completed an anonymous survey that included questions about the impact of events during COVID-19 and events around racial justice on research, academic progress, stress levels, and mental health.
Coping strategies and opportunities for input for on-campus support were also asked. Results of this survey were reported back in multiple all campus presentations and with administrators as well as in scientific presentations to help inform campus leaders and other institutions of higher education about the experiences of students and postdoctoral fellows and what support resources may be most helpful.
Phase 2: Longitudinal Study (October 2020 – April 2021): Complete
A 9-month longitudinal study was conducted to learn about the experiences of undergraduate, graduate and professional students and postdoctoral fellows during COVID-19 and the impact of the pandemic as well as race on mental health and wellbeing.
Participants completed the following as part of the study:
- A baseline survey and an in-depth interview
- Monthly follow up questionnaires, including the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Health Well-being Scale (WEMWBS).
- End of study survey and in-depth interview.
Phase 3: Focus Groups: Ongoing
The research team is currently conducting focus groups with key stakeholders (students, faculty, staff, administration) across campus to get their perspectives on study findings thus far and implications for policy and practice. If you are interested in participating in a focus group, please contact Robin Lanzi at .
Phase 4: All Campus Survey (Summer 2022)
We are currently conducting the UAB Summer 2022 All Campus Survey that aligns with the Summer 2020 survey which is an anonymous survey that includes questions about the impact of events (current and long-term) around COVID-19 and events around racial justice on mental health, stress levels, research, and academic progress, coping strategies, and an invitation to share perspectives on what is needed to support student mental health now.
To complete the quick survey, please scan the QR code below or click here: https://baseline.campuslabs.com/covidracestudpostdoc22
- The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete
- Mental health resources are provided at the end of the survey.
Study Findings, Materials, Awards, and Resources
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Peer Reviewed Manuscripts
Peer-Reviewed Manuscripts
Stowe, A., Upshaw, K., Estep, C., & Lanzi, R. G. (2021). Getting to the Sandbar: Understanding the Emotional Phases of COVID-19 Among College and University Students.Psychological Reports.https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941211028105.
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Research Grant Awards
Research Grant Awards
Stowe, A (November, 2021). Research Grant Award, Alabama Counseling Association, $500, for COVID-19, Race, and Student-Postdoctoral Fellow Mental Health research study.
Lanzi, R., Stowe, A., Upshaw, K., McMahon, L., Schwiebert, L., and Garner, S. (April, 2020) Back of the Envelope, School of Public Health Research Grant, $9500 for a mixed-methods longitudinal study examining Student Mental Health during COVID-19.
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Invited Webinars
Invited Webinars
Lanzi, R., Schwiebert, L. and Stowe, A. (November, 2021) Reporting Back: Implications from the COVID-19, Race, and Students and Postdoctoral Mental Health Study, Part 2.Invited webinar lecture for Fall 2021 hosted by the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy. Webinar Link.
Stowe, A., Schwiebert, L. and Lanzi, R. (August, 2021) Reporting Back: The COVID-19, Race, and Students and Postdoctoral Mental Health Study, Part 1. Invited webinar lecture for Fall 2021 hosted by the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy. Webinar Link.
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Media Features
Media Features
July 28, 2022 Dissertation: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on College Students with Disabilities UAB School of Health Professions News
October 25, 2021 Researchers discover new phase of disaster during the pandemic: The Sandbar. UAB e-Reporter.
October 25, 2021 Study tracks how UAB students’ mental health has been affected by COVID-19 and racism UAB e-Reporter. -
Conference Presentations and Poster Sessions
Conference Presentations and Poster Sessions
Lane,Wolfner, C., Ott, C. (May, 2022). Undergraduate student help seeking behaviors during COVID-19: A qualitative study. Accepted for the 2022 Annual Health Literacy Conference, Institute for Healthcare Literacy, virtual.
Perez, R., Stowe, A. M., Vanderwal, G, and Eichorn, E., (April, 2022). Symposia: Innovations in Collegiate Mental Health to Stem the Ongoing Mental Health Crisis. Presentation of research for the University of Alabama System Behavioral Health Conference, Tuscaloosa, AL.
Stowe, A.M., Lanzi, R., and Schwiebert, L. (April, 2022). Symposia: The effect of COVID-19. Presentation of research from the study COVID-19, Race, and Student Mental Health for the University of Alabama System Behavioral Health Conference, Tuscaloosa, AL.
Albright, M.G.*, Black, L.M.*, Graham, C., Stowe, A., Schwiebert, L., Lanzi, R. (March, 2022). Trajectories of College Student Mental Healthand Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Accepted for presentation at the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine Annual Meeting. San Diego, California.
Black, L., Estep, C., Boyd,N.,Stowe, A.M.,Lanzi, R., & Schwiebert, L.(October, 2021). Consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 racial unrest on the experiences of postdoctoral fellows: A parallel convergent mixed methods study. Presentation for the 2021 Group on Research, Education, and Training (GREAT) Conference hosted by the Association of American Medical Colleges, virtual.
Stowe, A.M., Wilkerson, H. (February 2021). Mental health during COVID-19. Invited plenary session panel presenter for the Southeastern Association for Educational Opportunity Program Personnel 49th Annual Conference, virtual.
Stowe, A.M., Estep,C.,Wolfner, C., Upshaw, K., Black, L., Chatham, A., Garner, S., Schwiebert, L., and Lanzi, R. (April, 2021) Events around racism and racial injustice during COVID-19 and impact on university student mental health. Poster presentation for the 2021 UAB School of Public Health Virtual Research Day.
Upshaw,K., Stowe, A. M., Estep, C., Black, L., Hutson, A., Garner, S., Ott, C., Schwiebert, L., and Lanzi, R. (April, 2021). The mental health journey of being a university student during COVID-19: A longitudinal mixed methods study of undergraduate and graduate students. Poster presentation for the 2021 UAB School of Public Health Virtual Research Day.
Estep, C., Black, L., Wolfner, C., Stowe, A. M., Schwiebert,L., andLanzi, R. (April, 2021). Mental health and coping mechanisms of gender minority university students and postdoctoral fellows in the deep south during COVID-19. Poster presentation for the 2021 UAB School of Public Health Virtual Research Day.
Ott, C., Stowe, A. M., Schwiebert, L., Upshaw, K., Estep, C., and Lanzi (April, 2021). Impacts of COVID-19 on student academic success: Perspectives from undergraduate and graduate students. Poster presentation for the 2021 UAB School of Public Health Virtual Research Day.
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Dissertations
Dissertations
Hutson-Chatham, A. (2021).Undergraduate students’ perspectives on mental health services, resources, and supports during COVID-19: A qualitative dissertation (Order No. 28648774). Available from Dissertations & Theses @ University of Alabama at Birmingham; ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (2572531421). Retrieved from https://login.ezproxy3.lhl.uab.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/undergraduate-students-perspectives-on-mental/docview/2572531421/se-2?accountid=8240
Wolfner, C. (2022, July). "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on College Students with Disabilities or Pre-existing Conditions: A Qualitative Dissertation." Dissertation Chair and Mentor: Dr. Robin Lanzi. Lifespan Developmental Psychology Doctoral Program. College of Arts and Sciences. University of Alabama at Birmingham. Watch Dr. Wolfner’s dissertation presentation.
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Awards
Awards
2021 Outstanding Professional Contribution to Knowledge, American College Counseling Association(ACCA), Awarded at the ACCA Annual Conference, Las Vegas, February 2022
First Place Staff Category,at the UAB SOPH Virtual Research Day presentation, (April, 2021). Upshaw, K., Stowe, A. M., Estep, C., Black, L., Hutson, A., Garner, S., Ott, C., Schwiebert, L., and Lanzi, R. for The mental health journey of being a university student during COVID-19: A longitudinal mixed methods study of undergraduate and graduate students.
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Resources
Resources
Partnership and Funding
Phases 1 and 2 Funded by the UAB School of Public Health Back of the Envelope Grant, with additional support from The Graduate School, Student Counseling Services, Faculty Research Funds, and the Office of Service Learning and Undergraduate Research.
Researchers
Robin Lanzi, PhD, MPH
Principal Investigator
Professor and Graduate Program Director
Department of Health Behavior, UAB School of Public Health
Co-Founder and Faculty Director, UAB Mental Health Ambassadors
Angela Stowe, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, BC-TMH
Director, Student Counseling Services
Adjunct Professor, Department of Health Behavior, UAB School of Public Health
Chair, UAB Suicide Prevention Initiative
Co-Founder and Clinical Director, UAB Mental Health Ambassadors
Lisa Schwiebert, Ph.D.
Professor of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology
Senior Associate Dean for Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs