Fred Johansson, Psychologist, MSc, PhD (candidate)
- Program of study: PhD, Care Science
- Institution: Sophiahemmet University
- Project title: Mental health among university students – a cohort study to identify risk factors and how they are affected by sleep
- Project background: University students show high levels of mental health problems, with evidence of mental health deteriorating during university studies. The COVID-19 pandemic has been suggested as a further threat to university students’ mental health. Mental health problems are known to be multi-causal, with a wide range interacting of potential risk factors. Poor sleep quality impairs emotion regulation and has been suggested as a transdiagnostic factor for mental health problems. However, little is known about how sleep may interact with other risk factors in the development of mental health problems.
- Project objectives: The Sustainable University Life cohort follows students over one academic year aiming to identify modifiable risk factor for mental health problems and musculoskeletal pain. Using this data, the aim of my dissertation is to:
- Describe the trajectories of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Determine if perfectionistic concerns and procrastination are risk factors for the development of mental health problems; and
- Determine how they interact with sleep quality in the development of mental health problems.
- Funding sources:
- The Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare.
- Sophiahemmet Ideel Förening.
- Committee Members:
- Eva Skillgate, PhD (Sophiahemmet University)
- Klara Edlund, PhD (Sophiahemmet University)
- Tobias Sundberg, PhD (Sophiahemmet University)
- Pierre Côté, PhD (Ontario Tech University)
Photo Credit to David Bicho