An investigation of the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic process on a sample composed of graduate students

This study aims to examine the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic process on a sample composed of graduate students in Turkey and understand the effects of other factors on this process. 176 graduate students who were reached online between 29 May and 29 June 2020 formed the sample of the study. Personal information form, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scales were sent to the participants via Google Forms. The data obtained from the participants were analyzed with the SPSS 27 package program. When the findings obtained in the study were examined, it was understood that 44.3% of the graduate students participating in the study had an anxiety disorder, 70.5% of them had a depressive disorder, and 42% of them had both anxiety and depressive disorders. During the COVID-19 pandemic, being a woman, low family income, studying at a state university and not receiving social support are risk factors in terms of both anxiety and depression levels of graduate students. In addition, while being in the thesis period is a risk factor for the anxiety levels of graduate students, it is also understood that having a family member in the risk group and not getting advisor support are risk factors for the depression levels of graduate students. On the other hand, it has been observed that being a man, high family income, studying at a foundation university, receiving advisor support and social support are protective factors for the mental health of graduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic process.