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Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

Abstract

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, college students have faced increased mental health issues and heightened stress. Prior studies have shown that Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) students, in particular, experienced a disproportionate impact due to the pandemic. While much research has focused on the pandemic’s impact on college students, little is known about its impact on BIPOC college students attending Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) during (2019–2022) and after (2024) the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the small sample size, Hispanic versus non-Hispanic analyses were not conducted. This study investigates the perceived impact of the pandemic on students’ mental health and coping mechanisms at both time points. The results suggest that students at this HSI reported mental health struggles but did not exhibit severe distress, highlighting experiences within this specific context. These findings can inform future interventions for acute mental health challenges and promote the use of healthy coping mechanisms.

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