Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on students' mental health. Monitoring and managing the students' wellbeing during a crisis such as this pandemic is a priority. In this study, the researchers' main objective is to determine the relationship between perceived stress and the mental health of selected college online students in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 307 college online students served as the respondents to this research, where two instruments were used: (a) Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), which measured Perceived Stress; and (b) Mental Health Inventory-18 (MHI), which assessed the respondents' Mental Health. The researchers utilized statistical methods such as frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson r correlation to analyze the data. It was also found out that perceived stress and mental health have a significant negative relationship, implying that the higher the students’ perceived stress, the lower their mental health and vice-versa. Moreover, the respondents have low anxiety levels and moderate degrees for depression, behavioral control, and positive affect, respectively. Furthermore, the study revealed that a higher percentage of stress has a lesser influence on one’s positive affect than anxiety, depression, and behavioral control. Therefore, it suggests that high behavioral control is an important factor in students' healthy mental state in this time of the pandemic. Finally, the gathered information may also serve as a basis for developing students’ wellness programs.
