Cross-sectional study on university students' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Exploring the influence of adverse and positive childhood experiences.

Aim: This study examined the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students, focusing on how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) influence mental health.

Methods: A web-based survey was administered to 3000 university students from October 26 to 31, 2022, following the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health assessments included the Japanese version of the Kessler Psychological Distress 6-Item Scale (K6) for depressive/anxiety symptoms, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R-J) for distress, fear of COVID-19, and a three-item loneliness scale.

Results: Of the respondents, 46.9% reported depressive/anxiety symptoms, 55.4% reported distress, and 37.3% reported fear of COVID-19. Factors such as current psychiatric treatment history and reduced income (either parental or personal) were predictive of worsening depressive/anxiety symptoms, distress, and loneliness. ACEs were found to exacerbate depressive/anxiety symptoms and distress, while PCEs mitigated these symptoms, and vice versa.

Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of considering both ACEs and PCEs in supporting the mental health of university students. PCEs were found to independently prevent mental health deterioration, including depressive/anxiety symptoms and distress, which may include post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, even in the presence of ACEs. Recognizing and fostering PCEs emerged as an effective strategy for mitigating mental health issues.