Open Access

ARTICLE

Moderating Mechanism in the Relationship between Social Isolation and Mental Health among College Students during High-Risk Period of COVID-19 Transmission in Hubei, China

by Dong Yang¹, Chia Ching Tu¹, Zhengyan Guo², Xiao Dai¹, Chia Feng Tu^3,*

1 International College, Krirk University, Bangkok, 10220, Thailand
2 Chinese International College, Dhurakij Pundit University, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand
3 Wei Gong Memorial Hospital, Toufen City, Miaoli County, 351011, Taiwan

* Corresponding Authors: Chia Feng Tu. Email: ,

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion 2023, 25(2), 193-206. https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2022.022130

Received 22 February 2022; Accepted 29 August 2022; Issue published 02 February 2023

Abstract

This study explored the effect of perceived social isolation on the mental health of college students during the high-risk period of COVID-19 transmission in Hubei, China and the role of social support from online friends in alleviating this effect. The questionnaire responses of 213 college students from four universities in Hubei were included. Measurement and structural models were constructed using structural equation modeling. The findings revealed that perceived social isolation while under home quarantine was a negative predictor of the mental health of college students in Hubei. Low social support from online friends may lead to a relatively strong relationship between perceived social isolation and mental health in these college students, whereas high social support from online friends may lead to a relatively weak relationship between perceived social isolation and mental health.

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Keywords

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