Latent Profile Analysis of Acute Stress Disorder Symptoms and Their Links to Individual Characteristics and Mental Health Among College Students During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives: acute stress disorder (ASD) became prevalent among various populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet little research has examined the heterogeneity of ASD symptoms among college students. The purpose of this research was to explore subgroups of ASD symptoms using latent profile analy...

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Main Authors: Xiaoqi Yan, Bin Gao, Xianghua Cai, Yongsheng Fan, Chong Zhao, Lu Bai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Behavioral Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/11/1020
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author Xiaoqi Yan
Bin Gao
Xianghua Cai
Yongsheng Fan
Chong Zhao
Lu Bai
author_facet Xiaoqi Yan
Bin Gao
Xianghua Cai
Yongsheng Fan
Chong Zhao
Lu Bai
author_sort Xiaoqi Yan
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: acute stress disorder (ASD) became prevalent among various populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet little research has examined the heterogeneity of ASD symptoms among college students. The purpose of this research was to explore subgroups of ASD symptoms using latent profile analysis (LPA) and to explore the predictors and mental health outcomes associated with these profiles. Methods: Using the person-centered method, we recruited 1198 college students (71.7% female) who self-reported their ASD, perceived social support, anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction from two Chinese universities following the COVID-19 outbreak. Results: The LPA results found three ASD symptom severity profiles: low (56.7%), moderate (31.6%), and high (11.7%), particularly characterized by reexperiencing and arousal symptoms. This study found that students in the moderate and high ASD subgroups were more likely to be female, have lower socioeconomic status, belong to minority groups, report lower self-rated health, and perceive less social support compared to those in the low ASD subgroup. Furthermore, compared to the low and moderate ASD subgroups, the high ASD subgroup was linked to elevated anxiety and depression and lower life satisfaction. Conclusions: These findings underscore the significance of identifying specific ASD symptom subgroups to effectively target prevention and intervention efforts.
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spelling doaj-art-0c9d03657f7e47ce9a5e298bfe512dda2025-08-20T01:53:40ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2024-11-011411102010.3390/bs14111020Latent Profile Analysis of Acute Stress Disorder Symptoms and Their Links to Individual Characteristics and Mental Health Among College Students During the Early COVID-19 PandemicXiaoqi Yan0Bin Gao1Xianghua Cai2Yongsheng Fan3Chong Zhao4Lu Bai5School of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, ChinaSchool of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, ChinaSchool of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, ChinaSchool of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, ChinaSchool of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, ChinaCollege of Education, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou 212003, ChinaObjectives: acute stress disorder (ASD) became prevalent among various populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet little research has examined the heterogeneity of ASD symptoms among college students. The purpose of this research was to explore subgroups of ASD symptoms using latent profile analysis (LPA) and to explore the predictors and mental health outcomes associated with these profiles. Methods: Using the person-centered method, we recruited 1198 college students (71.7% female) who self-reported their ASD, perceived social support, anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction from two Chinese universities following the COVID-19 outbreak. Results: The LPA results found three ASD symptom severity profiles: low (56.7%), moderate (31.6%), and high (11.7%), particularly characterized by reexperiencing and arousal symptoms. This study found that students in the moderate and high ASD subgroups were more likely to be female, have lower socioeconomic status, belong to minority groups, report lower self-rated health, and perceive less social support compared to those in the low ASD subgroup. Furthermore, compared to the low and moderate ASD subgroups, the high ASD subgroup was linked to elevated anxiety and depression and lower life satisfaction. Conclusions: These findings underscore the significance of identifying specific ASD symptom subgroups to effectively target prevention and intervention efforts.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/11/1020acute stress disordermental healthlatent profile analysiscollege students
spellingShingle Xiaoqi Yan
Bin Gao
Xianghua Cai
Yongsheng Fan
Chong Zhao
Lu Bai
Latent Profile Analysis of Acute Stress Disorder Symptoms and Their Links to Individual Characteristics and Mental Health Among College Students During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic
Behavioral Sciences
acute stress disorder
mental health
latent profile analysis
college students
title Latent Profile Analysis of Acute Stress Disorder Symptoms and Their Links to Individual Characteristics and Mental Health Among College Students During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic
title_full Latent Profile Analysis of Acute Stress Disorder Symptoms and Their Links to Individual Characteristics and Mental Health Among College Students During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic
title_fullStr Latent Profile Analysis of Acute Stress Disorder Symptoms and Their Links to Individual Characteristics and Mental Health Among College Students During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic
title_full_unstemmed Latent Profile Analysis of Acute Stress Disorder Symptoms and Their Links to Individual Characteristics and Mental Health Among College Students During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic
title_short Latent Profile Analysis of Acute Stress Disorder Symptoms and Their Links to Individual Characteristics and Mental Health Among College Students During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic
title_sort latent profile analysis of acute stress disorder symptoms and their links to individual characteristics and mental health among college students during the early covid 19 pandemic
topic acute stress disorder
mental health
latent profile analysis
college students
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/11/1020
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