Publication date: Jun 30, 2025
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted higher education worldwide, imposing strict isolation measures, transitioning learning online, and exacerbating existing social and economic inequalities. This literature review examines the pandemic’s impact on the mental health of college students, with a focus on those belonging to minority groups, including racial, ethnic, migrant, gender, sexuality-based, and low-income populations. While elevated levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness were observed across all students, findings indicate that LGBTQ+ and low-income students faced the highest levels of psychological distress, due to compounded stressors such as family rejection, unsafe home environments, and financial insecurity. Racial and ethnic minority students reported increased experiences of discrimination and reduced access to culturally competent mental healthcare. International and migrant students were disproportionately affected by travel restrictions, legal uncertainties, and social disconnection. These disparities underscore the need for higher education institutions to implement targeted, inclusive mental health policies that account for the unique needs of at-risk student populations during health crises.
Open Access PDF
| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Basel | COVID-19 |
| Education | mental health |
| Lgbtq | minority |
| Online | student |
| Pandemic | university |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 Pandemic |
| disease | MESH | anxiety |
| disease | MESH | depression |
| disease | MESH | loneliness |
| disease | MESH | psychological distress |
| disease | MESH | home environments |
| disease | MESH | uncertainty |
| disease | MESH | confusion |
| disease | MESH | infection |
| disease | MESH | social stigma |
| disease | IDO | history |
| disease | MESH | insomnia |
| disease | MESH | suicidal ideation |
| disease | MESH | mental disorders |
| disease | MESH | low socioeconomic status |
| disease | IDO | intervention |
| disease | MESH | substance dependence |
| disease | IDO | country |
| disease | MESH | violence |
| disease | MESH | domestic violence |
| disease | MESH | PTSD |
| disease | IDO | symptom |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Ethanol |
| disease | MESH | bulimia nervosa |
| disease | MESH | binge eating disorder |
| disease | MESH | comorbidity |
| disease | MESH | anxiety disorders |
| disease | MESH | anorexia nervosa |
| disease | MESH | mood disorders |
| disease | MESH | sedentary behavior |