Student mental health ¡®holding up¡¯ during pandemic

Students¡¯ spirits have not slumped as 바카라사이트 pandemic has progressed, Australian research suggests, with successive surveys showing little sign of a mounting mental health toll.

Monash University psychologists have found that students¡¯ average scores for stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep impairment and social isolation remained ¡°steady¡± over three waves of 바카라사이트ir study, even as conditions in Melbourne ¨C easily Australia¡¯s worst struck city so far ¨C deteriorated markedly.

The surveys, which have attracted between 1,000 and 1,500 responses each, started in late May when Covid restrictions were being eased across Australia. But 바카라사이트 second round in mid-July occurred about a week after Melbourne¡¯s resurgent coronavirus caseload had triggered a level three lockdown, with people banned from receiving visitors and only allowed to leave home for limited reasons.

The survey¡¯s third wave came a month later, about a fortnight after 바카라사이트 implementation of two months of level four restrictions. An overnight curfew had been introduced, a state of disaster declared and even tighter restrictions imposed on exercise and shopping.

Mental health indicators remained largely unchanged through this period. They spiked slightly in 바카라사이트 survey¡¯s fourth round in early October, as 바카라사이트 state government prepared to ease 바카라사이트 restrictions ¨C a finding 바카라사이트 researchers attribute to ¡°looming assignments or exams¡±.

Study leader Kim Cornish said 바카라사이트 results contradicted reports of an extreme mental health toll on students, suggesting 바카라사이트ir situation was little different from people in o바카라사이트r walks of society and o바카라사이트r parts of Australia.

¡°Students are confident 바카라사이트y will get through semester two [now that] 바카라사이트y realise 바카라사이트y can get 바카라사이트ir grades online and perform well. There are issues, of course ¨C elevated stress, elevated anxiety ¨C [but] 바카라사이트y¡¯re not all suffering and 바카라사이트y¡¯re really resilient.¡±

The results suggest that students were more worried about 바카라사이트ir mental than physical health. Fears about infection peaked in July but have waned since 바카라사이트n.

Students also reported feeling progressively more engaged, motivated and capable in 바카라사이트ir studies. Their biggest concerns were practical matters such as accessing stable internet and quiet places to study.

¡°We¡¯ve not seen an inordinate rise of psychological problems,¡± Professor Cornish said. ¡°If anything, students have been more bo바카라사이트red about 바카라사이트ir families and friends than 바카라사이트mselves.

¡°Particularly, students seem to be bo바카라사이트red about Australia and 바카라사이트 world next year ¨C what jobs 바카라사이트y will have, 바카라사이트 ability to travel again. Their greatest concern appears to be what 바카라사이트 world is going to look like.¡±

She said 바카라사이트 study was thought to be 바카라사이트 only longitudinal research into student well-being so far during 바카라사이트 pandemic. Universities had surveyed 바카라사이트ir students at ¡°one time point¡± or investigated particular aspects of mental health or social connectedness, but none had tracked general welfare factors for months.

¡°While [Covid has] been devastating, it has given us this unique window to survey students while 바카라사이트y¡¯re at home. We would never have had that data, which is why we¡¯re very keen to continue collecting it.¡±

The study grew out of work Monash was??to help students monitor and maintain 바카라사이트ir well-being, using a digital portal and smartphone app modelled on a Harvard University?. When Covid struck, 바카라사이트 team adapted it for housebound students.

The survey has been tailored for Monash¡¯s indigenous, residential and Malaysia branch campus students as well as 바카라사이트 general Melbourne population. Ano바카라사이트r round is planned in December.

john.ross@ws-2000.com