Transitioning Into College During COVID-19: Effects on Mental Health

Spring of 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic brought significant challenges and life changes for people around the world. The sudden isolation, the health-related anxiety, and the drastic changes in daily routines affected everyone. This study measures the impact COVID-19 had on incoming first-year students at Arizona State University, and how the pandemic impacted their mental health. A total of 92 students participated in this study and were recruited through convenience sampling. In order to gain a better understanding of how students were truly doing transitioning into college during the pandemic, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected in the forms of a survey and optional follow-up interviews. Congruent with previous literature, the survey found that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on college students and their mental health. Seven students completed the follow-up interviews and expanded on their answers in the survey through personal examples of their first-year experiences. After the survey and follow-up interviews were completed, I presented my findings for first-year students in Mary Lou Fulton Teacher’s College to help students see that they were not alone. This research allowed students the opportunity to be heard and share their experiences, as well as, to obtain access to resources that promote their mental health and academic success during the challenging time.