The Covid-19 Psychological Problems

Theory: The Covid-19 deaths have led to numerous psychological problems such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, stress, depression, and sadness, which have increased alcohol and other substance usage, abuse, and addiction among HBCU students.

Question: With HBCU students losing their immediate family, mother, father, sister, brother, or grandparent to Covid-19, it has influenced significant psychological issues like anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, stress, depression, and sadness, increasing alcohol and other substance use, abuse, and addiction.

Supporting Theory: The hypothesis for this study states that Covid-19 deaths increase the use of alcohol and other substance, abuse and addiction among the Historically Black Colleges and Universities students. The research expects that the Covid-19 deaths of the immediate family, mother, father, brother, sister, or grandparent each participant experiences will influence psychological disturbances, increasing alcohol and other substance use, abuse, and addiction. The study will use the Self-Medication Theory to confirm the hypothesis and support the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Self-Medication theory posits that individuals use alcohol and other substances as a coping strategy to address negative emotions, especially when a particular disaster happens. In this sense, the theory will help show the link between the negative emotions associated with Covid-19 deaths and alcohol and other substance usages, abuse, and addiction increase.

Independent Variable: Covid-19 Deaths

Dependent Variables: Psychological distress

Increased of alcohol and other substance

Since its outbreak in 2019, Coronavirus has resulted in millions of deaths globally. According to the World Health Organization, over 5 million individuals have died so far with more than 200 million infections. These deaths led to profound psychological distress, resulting in other adverse implications such as increased alcohol intake and drug abuse. Virtually everyone felt these impacts, including Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students on campus. Several scholars have argued the relationship between Covid-19 deaths and increased alcohol and other substance use, abuse, and addiction. This section provides notable empirical studies related to the subject topic.