Anxiety, Reactions, and Economic Expectations of University Students in the Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The current survey study was designed to explore the mental health status, reactions, concerns, and expectations of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the potential relationships between mental health and their reactions and macroeconomic expectations. The results show that the student's mental health worsened during Covid-19 which accelerated their pessimism, causing a decline in their academic success and purchases, and causing an increase in their negative expectations about macroeconomic indicators. The results also show that concerns about the economy, financial situation, and future are associated with mental deterioration. The analysis reveals that the most prevalent concern among the students is anxiety about the future. Moreover, gender, educational level, and income level also significantly impact the reactions and the macroeconomic expectations of the students.