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COVID-19 Lockdown-Related Changes in Mood, Health and Academic Functioning
Pauline A Hendriksen1, Johan Garssen1,2, Elisabeth Y Bijlsma1
1Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education
|November 29, 2021
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns led to online education, with mixed impacts on pharmacy students. While academic performance slightly improved, mood and social interactions significantly declined, especially for women and minority students.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacy Education
- Mental Health
- Online Learning
Background:
- COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid shift to online education.
- Impact on academic functioning and mood in higher education remains a concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on academic functioning and mood.
- Assess changes in Dutch pharmacy students and PhD candidates.
Main Methods:
- Online survey with retrospective assessment (before and during COVID-19).
- 341 participants (pharmacy students and PhD candidates) completed the survey.
- Assessed mood, academic functioning, stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, loneliness, optimism, and happiness.
Main Results:
- Academic activities increased, and study grades/output improved slightly during lockdown.
- Significant negative mood changes observed: increased stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, loneliness; reduced optimism and happiness.
- Women, students living alone, and those with migration backgrounds reported greater negative impacts.
- Stress and fatigue negatively correlated with performance quality and study grades/output.
- Younger age predicted improved performance and grades; stress/fatigue predicted poorer outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Online education during COVID-19 lockdowns positively impacted academic performance for the sample overall.
- Lockdowns significantly reduced mood and social interactions, with substantial variability among students.
- Approximately one-third of students experienced poorer academic functioning, requiring targeted support for online transition and stress management.
Keywords:
COVID-19academic performancelockdownmoodonline educationquality of liferemote teachingsleepsocial interactionsMore Related Videos
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