U.S. agricultural university students' mental well‐being and resilience during the first wave of COVID‐19: Discordant expectations and experiences across genders

• DOI: 10.1002/aepp.13233
• Publication Date: 2022-02-05T11:19:45Z
• Authors: Mariah D. Ehmke; Bhagyashree Katare; Kristin Kiesel; Jason S. Bergtold; Jerrod M. Penn; Kathryn A. Boys
• Keywords: Economics; Applied economics; COVID-19 pandemic; Agricultural students; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Behavioral and Social Science; Discrimination; 10. No inequality; 2. Zero hunger; Featured Articles; Prevention; 4. Education; Remote teaching; Gender; COVID‐19 pandemic; 3. Good health; Mental Health; Good Health and Well Being; Agricultural Economics & Policy; Applied Economics; Zero Hunger; Life satisfaction; Mental health

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic's first wave led to declining mental health and life satisfaction outcomes for college students, especially women. While women in undergraduate agricultural programs outperformed men academically prior during the pandemic, achievement may have come at personal cost, those with fewer environmental resiliency resources. Our research objective was expand on personal, social, factors linked lower scores students agriculture pandemic. We measured influence of such across gender-based outcomes. data were collected from 2030 using an on-line survey six land-grant university agriculturally as many distinct regions United States. estimated OLS Ordered Probit models their self-assessments. findings reveal students' reduced due a paucity (e.g., less future orientation or graduate school aspirations, food housing insecurity, risks) quality learning experiences, isolation, family risk, discrimination experiences) results suggest more likely than be adversely affected by These emergency response policies need address needs security, course development delivery, tele resources, broad social inclusion diversity decrease risk female attrition support all degree programs.