Mental Health Consequences of the Covid-19 Pandemic Among University Students: Systematic Literature Review

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15826/csp.2025.9.4.366

Abstract

According to global health epidemics, long-term psychological issues are common, and they can affect various aspects of society. It is therefore not surprising that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students’ mental health have been highlighted. This is because the pandemic has reportedly caused various adverse effects on students’ mood, including depression, stress, and anxiety. For this reason, a systematic review was conducted on the mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic among university students. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) were implemented for selection, screening, and reporting. Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), ScienceDirect, Emerald, Sage, ERIC, and other databases were used to conduct this systematic review of quantitative and qualitative research published between 2020 and 2024. Mental health, consequences, COVID-19, pandemic, and university students were the most used keywords. There are seven mental health consequences among university students based on sixty-nine studies, including depression, social interaction, anxiety, loneliness, online education, stress, and fear. As a result, more research is needed to better understand the mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education among university students.

Author Biographies

Asbah Razali, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur

Asbah Razali is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology Faculty of Art and Social Sciences, University of Malaya, specializing in Human Development. More specifically, her work aims to address areas such as addiction, psychosocial problems, substance abuse, and high-risk behavior among adolescents. She also explores how cultural contexts and societal pressures contribute to addiction and high-risk behaviors among adolescents.

Mohamed Salah Hassan, College of Business Administration (COBA), Department of Management, A’Sharqiyah University, Ibra

Mohammed Salah is an Assistant Professor at the Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS) in Oman. His research primarily encompasses social psychology, public administration, and artificial intelligence. Currently, he is delving into understanding how artificial intelligence, specifically generative AI influences decision-making processes.

Balan Rathakrishnan, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Balan Rathakrishnan is an Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology and Social Work, University Malaysia Sabah. He specialized in youth and community development program in UMS. He also won the World Inventor Award from Korea in 2013 in field of research and education category for social sciences. His research focuses on youth, creativity, innovation and intervention for social problems for youth.  Over these years, he has published a considerable number of articles on stress management, career development, creativity and mental health, youth problems and life skills in the national and international level.

Nur Azah Razali, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Johor

Nur Azah Razali is currently serving as a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Social Science, Centre for General Studies and Co-curricular, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Johor. Her academic background is rooted in political science and public policy, with a specialization in Malaysian politics, national unity, NGOs, and Malaysian governance. This expertise equips her with a nuanced understanding of political developments and the dynamics of national unity, particularly in relation to the role of NGOs and governance structures within Malaysia's socio-political landscape.

Norfaezah Md Khalid, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur

Dr. Norfaezah Md Khalid is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, Faculty of Education, University of Malaya. She specializes in counseling and marriage and family therapy. Dr. Norfaezah has led and collaborated on numerous research projects, including studies in family care giving, emotional well-being, mental health and the psychological impact of social vulnerability in urban Malaysia. Her research interests include, but are not limited to, family and marital studies, career development, mental health, counseling assessment, instrument development and psychology.

Siti Mas’udah, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya

Siti Mas’udah is a Professor at the Department of Sociology, Surabaya, Indonesia. She achieved her graduate degree as a Bachelor of Sociology, a post-graduate degree as a Master of Social Sciences and Doctoral Program in Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia. Her doctoral study is about gender, power relations and violence in dual-career families.  She has served as the Head of the Master Program in Sociology, Editor-in-Chief of Jurnal Masyarakat, Kebudayaan dan Politik and a reviewer for international journals. Her research focuses on gender, family, community development and social inequality, with numerous publications in Scopus- and WoS-indexed journals.

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Published
2025-12-29
How to Cite
Razali, A., Hassan, M., Rathakrishnan, B., Azah Razali, N., Khalid, N., & Mas’udah, S. (2025). Mental Health Consequences of the Covid-19 Pandemic Among University Students: Systematic Literature Review. Changing Societies & Personalities, 9(4), 1079-1106. doi:10.15826/csp.2025.9.4.366
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Vol. 9, No. 4 (2025)
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Articles