AUTHOR=Kim Hee Jun , Meeker Timothy J. , Tulloch Ingrid K. , Mullins Jake , Park Jin-Hee , Bae Sun Hyoung 

TITLE=Pandemic Fatigue and Anxiety Sensitivity as Associated Factors With Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among University Students in South Korea During the Prolonged COVID-19 Pandemic

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 67 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2022.1604552

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2022.1604552

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=Objectives. The global impact of COVID-19 driven by the appearance of new variants may add to the adverse mental health consequences of the prolonged pandemic, including posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). University students may be prone to develop a series of PTSS due to life disruptions and increased uncertainty associated with the pandemic. The purpose of this study was to assess associations between pandemic fatigue, anxiety sensitivity (AS), and PTSS among university students in South Korea. 
Methods. Using convenience sampling, 400 students participated in this cross-sectional online survey. Descriptive statistics and linear mixed models were used to examine factors associated with PTSS. 
Results. About one-third (32.3%) of the participants reported clinically significant levels of PTSS. Multivariate analyses revealed that pandemic fatigue (β = 0.124, p < 0.001) and AS (β = 0.212, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with PTSS when controlling for other study variables. 
Conclusion. Young adults who feel more fatigue related to the COVID-19 pandemic and with high AS should be given priority access to mental health resources to better manage their mental health and reduce PTSS.