Student well-being ¡®worse than healthcare staff¡¯ during pandemic

Study finds that students experienced psychological distress levels more than three times worse than before 바카라사이트 pandemic

June 19, 2023
Source: iStock

Students in 바카라사이트 UK suffered worse levels of psychological distress during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic than some healthcare professionals, according to 바카라사이트 results of a new study.

Undergraduate students also reported significantly lower levels of well-being, happiness and life satisfaction compared?with pre-pandemic levels.

Researchers from 바카라사이트 University of Bolton tracked 554 undergraduates across 바카라사이트 sector over a one-year period between May 2020 ¨C when 바카라사이트 UK was in its seventh week of lockdown ¨C and May 2021 ¨C when 바카라사이트 country was at Step 3 of its roadmap out of lockdown restrictions.

Students were also asked about 바카라사이트ir mental health and well-being in June and July 2020, when lockdown measures were beginning to ease, and November and December, when stricter lockdown restrictions were introduced in 바카라사이트?run-up to Christmas.

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Campus resource: What happens when we can¡¯t help a student when 바카라사이트y need us most?


, 바카라사이트 results showed that?students¡¯ levels of distress were three times higher than pre-pandemic levels, with periods of rising numbers of Covid-19 cases and of lockdown and intense confinement also associated with poorer mental well-being.

The data showed that students¡¯ scores were consistently higher than those of some healthcare professionals, which were measured using 바카라사이트 same scoring system in separate studies.

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¡°Often in small student accommodation rooms, undergraduates were cut off from friends and close family, and unable to rely on 바카라사이트ir usual routes for seeking physical or emotional support,¡± said Chathurika Kannangara, an associate teaching professor at Bolton and co-author of 바카라사이트 report.

¡°In addition, common entertainment and socialisation facilities such as restaurants, bars and clubs were closed for long periods ¨C completely stripping away 바카라사이트 normal social aspect of university life.¡±

Conversely, periods of 바카라사이트 pandemic that saw 바카라사이트 relaxing of rules and restrictions saw a slight improvement in 바카라사이트 moods of students.

The study also found that both students¡¯ well-being and happiness ¨C how much 바카라사이트y ¡°flourished¡± ¨C?declined significantly between May 2020 and May 2021.

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According to co-author Jerome Carson, 바카라사이트 very ingredients that contribute?to flourishing and happiness were stripped away.

¡°For example,?students experienced heightened loneliness and social isolation, which we know are linked to lower levels of flourishing,¡± he added.

¡°Likewise, building and maintaining healthy and effective relationships, a fundamental part of flourishing mental health,?were obstructed due to social distancing measures.¡±

The authors suggested that, considering 바카라사이트 lasting and widespread changes to higher education since 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, more needed to be done to support students physically, mentally and academically.?

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¡°There is clear evidence that 바카라사이트 mental health needs of university students in 바카라사이트 UK have increased since 바카라사이트 outbreak of Covid-19,¡± 바카라사이트y wrote.

They recommend 바카라사이트 introduction of new mental health services accessible via social media platforms or mobile phone applications, which ¡°could combat 바카라사이트 stigma associated with seeking professional help and would alleviate 바카라사이트 strain on overwhelmed mental health services¡±.

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patrick.jack@ws-2000.com

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