COVID-19 Impact on Kazakhstan University Student Fear, Mental Health, and Substance Use

• DOI: 10.1007/s11469-020-00412-y
• Publication Date: 2020-11-09T17:04:59Z
• Authors: Vsevolod Konstant...; Saule Berdenova; Gulnara Satkangulova; Alexander Reznik; Richard Isralowitz
• Keywords: Health psychology; 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak; Pandemic

Coronavirus (COVID-19) was first detected in November 2019.The infection spread quickly Wuhan (the capital of the Chinese province Hubei) and then throughout China other countries including Kazakhstan located Central Asia, ninth largest country world terms land mass with a population less than 20 million.Over 18th 19th centuries, protectorate Russian Empire.After 1917 revolution Russia, it became part Federation (1920); and, 1936, Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic formed within USSR.Under Empire authority, territory used as place for exile politically convicted persons; ethnic cleansing Germans, Greeks, Crimean Tatars, Koreans; resettlement Russians.In 1991, declared independence.However, has maintained close economic, political, cultural ties neighboring Russia 7500-km common border-much longer distance from Los Angeles to New York City.Presently, Russians Ukrainians constitute about 20% population; 70% identify Islamic religion; is second state language after (CIA 2020).The government policy toward COVID-19 pandemic closely mirrors that (Åslund 2020) quarantine, blocked access designated cities regions, closed borders, transition school university education system learning.At end September 2020, 107,590 confirmed cases 1699 deaths were reported country.Case fatality ratios number divided by numbers cases) (1.6%) those (1.8%),China (5.2%), Germany (3.1%), USA (2.8%)