Stress Biomarkers in Young Adult University Students Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Cohort Study
The findings highlight the impact of long-term stressors on the biochemical balance of stress-hormones and neurotransmitters and the long-term biological and behavioral effects of the pandemic on university students, with potential consequences for their future somatic and mental health. Physical exercise emerges as an important protective factor against the effects of chronic stress, as does timely mental health monitoring and support.
Authors
- Mattheos Bobos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5662-9201)
- Constantine Anetakis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7495-4462)
- Sotirios Varlamis
- Maria Chatzidimitriou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2101-4546)
- Vasileios Papaliagkas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1064-0290)
- Eleftherios Panteris (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5846-388X)
- Stella Mitka
- Ioannis Chaniotakis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8345-7908)
- Petros Skepastianos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5646-1362)
- Aikaterini Anetaki
Institutions
- International Hellenic University (GR)
- University Hospital of Heraklion (GR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cureus
- Published
- 2025-11-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.97328
- Primary Topic
- Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00