Fear of COVID-19 and Academic Stress Impact on Mental Health of University Students in Gaza Strip: The Mediating Role of Locus of Control and Self-Esteem

The present study sought to explore the association of fear of Covid-19, academic stress with mental distress, and locus of control and self-esteem as mediating factors in a population of university students living in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. 315 university students, 230 (73%) women and 85 (27%) men, were administered with the Fear of Covid-19 Scale, Academic Stress Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Symptom Checklist-10. A series of multiple linear regressions were performed to test the study’s hypotheses. A direct effect of fear of Covid-19 on mental health, a direct effect of academic stress on mental health, and a mediating role of locus of control and self-esteem were found. Gender and age differences were also detected, revealing that girls and older students were the most distressed by the pandemic. The research results have highlighted an urgent need to protect Gaza students from the Covid-19 psychological burdens in a context where prohibitive living conditions might have undermined their self-esteem. These findings suggest the importance of implementing psychosocial support programs within academic settings in Gaza, with a focus on reinforcing self-esteem and internal locus of control among students. Tailored mental health interventions, particularly for female and older students, should be prioritized to mitigate the impact of both pandemic-related stressors and chronic adversity. Policymakers, educators, and mental health professionals must collaborate to ensure accessible, gender-sensitive, and culturally appropriate support services that can enhance students’ resilience and well-being.