International Collaboration to Tackle Post-Pandemic Mental Health Challenges

Researchers from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) Psychology and Counselling department collaborated with colleagues from universities in the USA, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines to conduct research investigating the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of students.

The research, reported in a special edition of the European Journal of Mental Health focusing on Covid-19 research, found differences in coping styles and outcomes between cultures related to whether they were from individualistic (UK, USA) or collectivistic (Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand) cultures.

Dr Paul Hutchings, Associate Professor of Psychology and Academic Director: Psychology and Counselling at UWTSD, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic impacted upon many areas of the world with lockdowns, financial hardship, cessation of face-to-face studies, and the closure of many facilities all placing a huge psychological strain on students universally.

“Our research examined how these students coped during the first wave of Covid-19 and found that, whilst some coping strategies were similar across cultures, others differed and produced significantly different outcomes. We hope that these findings will help us to further understand how to develop strategies to support mental wellbeing and reduce psychological distress.”

The research findings:

• A global increase in stress, as would be expected given the context of lockdowns in every country. However, it appears to have had a particular impact upon students as so many aspects of their lives were impacted – their studies, ability to socialise, and the types of work that students usually engage in (such as the hospitality industry) were some of the most disrupted in all countries.
• Different coping strategy types led to differential outcomes, with those using dysfunctional coping strategies (use of alcohol, drugs, trying to ignore issues) showing the most negative outcomes, whilst those who used emotion or problem-focused strategies showed the most positive outcomes – this suggests that students should be taught about these strategies so they can use them.

• Cultural differences showed that students from the UK and USA had better outcomes overall, partly because they used less dysfunctional coping and more emotion-focused coping but also because they are less communal in general. Being more independent appears to have made them a little more resilient during a pandemic situation, but communality also fosters greater community spirit at other times.
• The research also highlighted a number of areas relating to mental health and wellbeing that also apply outside of a pandemic situation, some of it suggesting a global approach to mental health care and other findings suggesting that some elements need to be tailored to deliver to specific social communities depending upon their cultural make-up.

In addition to this research the UWTSD researchers, Dr Paul Hutchings, and Dr Katie Sullivan, have conducted a number of other projects with the international team which includes Dr Amoneeta Beckstein, Dr Noor Hassline Mohamed, and Dr Nicholas Tze Ping Pang. Research in these other projects includes examining pathogen-related fear and discrimination, and strategies for improving mental health responses to crises.

The team have also authored the book ‘The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Managing Mental Health Challenges’ which explores the issues of mental health and Covid from a number of different perspectives.

Further Information

Rebecca Davies

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Executive Press and Media Relations Officer

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Corporate Communications and PR

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Email: Rebecca.Davies@uwtsd.ac.uk