Mental health impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Iranian university students

The outbreak of Covid-19 killed thousands of people and induced social isolation in many more due to the lockdown to reduce the spread of the virus. This study examines the changes in mental health in Iranian university students during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. The data was collected through a questionnaire which was conducted physically among 300 participants. The questions were developed by reviewing previous similar studies. The data of this study were analyzed using SPSS statistics with the guidance of a statistical expert. After the Covid-19 pandemic, average life satisfaction and hope for the future dropped significantly in men and women. The collected data shows that the self-report scores given to life satisfaction, anger, stress, fear of society, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and sadness are significantly different before and after the Covid-19 pandemic. The results show meaningful relations between aggression and changes in fear of society, stress levels, anger, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, sadness, and life satisfaction before and after the pandemic. This study investigated that prior mental and physical disorders extent of friend circle, and relationship with housemates had impacts on self-confidence. It is expected from researchers, policymakers, and health organizations to make interventions to balance physical health alongside maintaining and improving the well-being of people mentally and socially in times of quarantine.