College Students’ Reduced Cognitive Empathy and Increased Anxiety and Depression before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study explored college students’ mental health (i.e., anxious and depressive symptoms, intrapersonal identity, and ethnic identity) and cognitive empathy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Students reported heightened anxiety and depression scores from pre (Spring 2019) to during pandemic (Spring 2020) and a reduction in cognitive empathic perspective taking and concern.