Title: Effect of COVID-19 on Anxiety in College Students
By: Megan VanHouten, Makenzie Wilkinson, Elizabeth Dennany, and Jenna Falkenberg

Abstract:
The onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) disrupted society, and had a large impact specifically on college students. Anxiety was prevalent amongst college students prior to the pandemic. Living through a pandemic implemented stressors into college student's daily life that were previously absent. These stressors included worries, isolation, and changes in academics. These factors negatively impacted mental health within college students. With the addition of a pandemic, questions were raised about how anxiety levels were impacted. The negative impacts associated with the pandemic are thought to have influenced anxiety levels in college students. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects that COVID-19 had on anxiety levels in college students in the U.S. Data collected in February 2020 from a sample of 150 Davenport University students was used to determine anxiety levels in college students pre COVID-19. Participants volunteered and anonymously completed the Adults Manifest Anxiety Scale (AMAS-C) to determine anxiety level and severity. Current data from two cross-sectional, mixed methods, exploratory studies were used to examine anxiety in college students post COVID-19. Participants volunteered and anonymously completed the (AMAS-C). Participants also completed an online survey created by students within Davenport University's Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy program called the Survey of College Students Occupations. This survey asked participant demographic information and their perceptions of their anxiety pre and post COVID-19. Questions gathered qualitative and quantitative data. Quantitative data was analyzed and qualitative data was coded and themes were extracted. Data from pre COVID-19 was compared to data post COVID-19 to determine the effect COVID-19 had on college student' anxiety. It is predicted that data collected will show an increase in college students' anxiety pre COVID-19 to post COVID-19. The qualitative data will provide an understanding of the factors that influenced the increase in anxiety. We predict that these factors will include financial stress, academic stress, being worried about family members, and isolation. In conclusion, it is expected that college students will display higher levels of anxiety currently, compared to before the pandemic. This study will help bridge the gap in the literature of how college students' anxiety pre COVID-19 compares to their anxiety post COVID-19.

Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to determine the impacts that COVID-19 had on anxiety levels in college students.

Methodology:
After receiving IRB approval; we were able to collect data. We collected data from a convenience sample of 150 Davenport University Students. Participants anonymously completed two surveys. First, they completed the Adult Manifest Anxiety Scale for College Students (AMAS-C) to determine anxiety levels and severity. Then, they completed the Survey of College Student's Occupation which collected data on participants perceptions of their anxiety pre and post COVID-19. Data from February 2020 was obtained, in which 150 Davenport University students completed the AMAS-C survey. This allows for a comparison in anxiety levels among college students pre and post COVID-19.