Sensory and cognitive experiences after COVID-19 infection in college students

Abstract

Objective: This project examined sensory and cognitive processing after COVID-19 infection in college students. Participants: The final sample included 424 undergraduate students (M age = 19.36). Methods: A survey was administered to gather demographics, infection history, and sensory and cognitive experiences following COVID-19, including stress, experiential measures of sensory gating and processing, cognition, sleep, olfactory function, and emotional implications. Results: Greater perceived COVID-19 severity was significantly associated with poorer sleep quality, sensory processing difficulties, and more cognitive failures. Similarly, participants with lingering symptoms reported significantly poorer sensory, sleep, and cognitive experiences. More difficulty filtering sensory input and poorer sleep predicted higher reported COVID-19 severity. Among those currently experiencing brain fog, greater perceived impact of this symptom was moderately associated with more cognitive failures. Descriptive statistics for emotional implications are provided. Conclusions: Lingering COVID-19 symptoms and perceived severity may be associated with sensory and cognitive challenges in college students.

Department(s)

School of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences

Document Type

Article

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2025.2561890

Keywords

College students, COVID-19, lingering symptoms, long COVID, young adults

Publication Date

1-1-2025

Journal Title

Journal of American College Health

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