Wu HN, Luo FG, Wang JJ, Wu WY, Fang KJ, Xing HY, Yan J. Emotion regulation and mental health in college students during coronavirus pandemic lockdowns. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(9): 115802 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.115802]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Juan Yan, Manager, MD, Professor, Quality Control Office, Affiliated Mental Health Center and Hangzhou Seventh People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 305 Tianmushan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou 310013, Zhejiang Province, China. 294162939@qq.com
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Psychiatry
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review-article
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Wu HN, Luo FG, Wang JJ, Wu WY, Fang KJ, Xing HY, Yan J. Emotion regulation and mental health in college students during coronavirus pandemic lockdowns. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(9): 115802 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.115802]
World J Psychiatry. Sep 19, 2026; 16(9): 115802 Published online Sep 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.115802
Emotion regulation and mental health in college students during coronavirus pandemic lockdowns
Huai-Neng Wu, Fu-Gang Luo, Jun-Jie Wang, Wen-Ye Wu, Kai-Jie Fang, Hao-Yu Xing, Juan Yan
Huai-Neng Wu, Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Mental Health Center and Hangzhou Seventh People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310013, Zhejiang Province, China
Fu-Gang Luo, Intensive Care Unit, Affiliated Mental Health Center and Hangzhou Seventh People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310013, Zhejiang Province, China
Jun-Jie Wang, Judicial Appraisal Institute, Affiliated Mental Health Center and Hangzhou Seventh People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310013, Zhejiang Province, China
Wen-Ye Wu, Kai-Jie Fang, Juan Yan, Quality Control Office, Affiliated Mental Health Center and Hangzhou Seventh People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310013, Zhejiang Province, China
Hao-Yu Xing, Department of Medical Engineering, The Affiliated Mental Health Center and Hangzhou Seventh People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310013, Zhejiang Province, China
Co-first authors: Huai-Neng Wu and Fu-Gang Luo.
Co-corresponding authors: Hao-Yu Xing and Juan Yan.
Author contributions: Wu HN, Luo FG, and Wang JJ contributed to conceptualization and writing; Wu HN and Luo FG contributed equally to this manuscript as co-first authors; Wu WY and Fang KJ contributed to review and editing; Xing HY wrote the original draft; Xing HY and Yan J drafted the manuscript, and they contributed equally to this manuscript as co-corresponding authors. All the authors have read and approved the final version of this manuscript.
AI contribution statement: The author indicates that the manuscript was corrected for grammar and sentence structure by the editing service agency (Editage). The content, arguments, structure and viewpoints of this article are entirely the author’s own creation.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Juan Yan, Manager, MD, Professor, Quality Control Office, Affiliated Mental Health Center and Hangzhou Seventh People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 305 Tianmushan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou 310013, Zhejiang Province, China. 294162939@qq.com
Received: October 27, 2025 Revised: November 26, 2025 Accepted: January 9, 2026 Published online: September 19, 2026 Processing time: 302 Days and 21.5 Hours
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic triggered a global mental health crisis, with college students particularly vulnerable population due to disruptions in academic, social, and developmental trajectories. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on the relationships among emotion regulation (ER) strategies, lifestyle factors, and mental health outcomes during the pandemic. Findings from over 40 studies, indicate high rates of depression, anxiety, and stress among students during lockdowns. Maladaptive ER strategies, such as compensatory spending (β = 0.13-0.19) and binge eating (β = 0.14-0.19), were consistently were consistently associated with increased psychological distress, reflecting short-term coping attempts that exacerbate long-term outcomes. In contrast, adaptive strategies, including engagement in recreational activities, regular physical exercise, and social support, were linked to reduced distress. These relationships were moderated by demographic factors (e.g., gender, socioeconomic status) and contextual variables (e.g., academic stress, sleep quality). Some studies also reported increased vulnerability among male students, potentially due to disruptions in gender-related coping patterns. Overall, ER emerges as a modifiable determinant of resilience. Interventions should emphasize adaptive ER strategies, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and the mitigation of academic and financial stressors. Future research should adapt longitudinal and mixed-methods approaches to clarify causal pathways and long-term psychological effects.
Core Tip: This review synthesizes evidence on how ER strategies influenced college students’ mental health during the coronavirus disease 2019 lockdowns. Maladaptive behaviors such as compensatory spending and binge eating were identified as key risk factors, whereas recreational activities, physical exercise, and social support served as protective factors. Psychological factors were further influenced by socioeconomic status, academic stress, and gender, with emerging evidence of increased vulnerability among male students. The high comorbidity of depression, anxiety, and stress, suggests shared underlying mechanisms. A multi-level intervention framework targeting ER skills, lifestyle factors, and institutional support is proposed to enhance student resilience in future crises.
