Vulnerability Factors Associated with College Adjustment Trajectories During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has overturned the lives of students in higher education. In this quantitative longitudinal study, we examine trajectories of college adjustment (in terms of academic and social functioning) and associated personal vulnerability factors during the first wave of the pandemic. Ten Quebec colleges invited all their newcomer students as well as those already enrolled in an adapted service to complete a questionnaire twice- in October 2019 (pre-COVID-19) and April–May 2020 (peak of the first wave). The questionnaire included college adjustment scales and questions on disability status, GPA, parental incomes, and COVID-19 experience. The final sample comprises 1, 435 students (mean age = 18.2 years) of which 42% are students with a learning or affective disorder. The trajectory analysis (growth mixture models) indicates that most students perceived moderate declines in academic and social adjustment during the first wave of COVID-19. Ten percent of students reported large declines in academic and social adjustment, whereas only 4% reported improvements. Students with mental health diagnosis, lower parental income, and lower high school GPA were generally at greater risk for following a low-functioning or worsening trajectory compared to other students. We recommend preventive measures to reduce the pandemic’s long-term effects on academic and professional outcomes.