THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS’ PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING: A CROSS-SECTIONAL CORRELATIONAL STU.

Abstract

Background: In December 2019, a new virus appeared in Wuhan, China. Few months later, the COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. Countries all over the world went into complete lockdown. Studies on the psychological impact of the new virus speculated that a psychological pandemic is possible, and the population are facing the threats of anxiety, depression and PTSD.

Aim: This research aimed to study the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological wellbeing of the postgraduate students. Providing the students with advices on how to overcome the impact. In addition to help universities to create polices that can aid in supporting the students.

Methods: A quantitative correlational study was conducted using an online survey. The participants (n=92) were selected using convenience sampling. Data collection was conducted via an online survey using Qualtrics at a Welsh university. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis.

Results: 60% of the students demonstrated moderate to severe symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. 45% of the students reported feeling lonely and 59% felt isolated during the lockdown. The results showed that feeling lonely was moderately correlated with having sleeping issues. In addition, correlation was found between inability to think clearly, inability to focus, and loss of energy with feeling lonely. Loneliness were also associated with the depressive symptoms that the participants demonstrated. 68% of the participants had concerns about their psychological wellbeing. 53% felt depressed, and 39% felt hopeless most of the days. 77% of the participants believed that COVID-19 have negatively impacted their education. 79% felt irritated and 72% felt stressed more than usual. Feeling depressed, sad, hopeless, stressed, inability to relax and irritated and losing the sense of direction and purpose in life were all correlated with having concerns about the psychological wellbeing. Additionally, believing that COVID-19 have negatively impacted the participants’ psychological wellbeing was significantly correlated with feeling lonely, depressed, sad, hopeless, stressed, irritated, and finding it hard to relax.

Conclusion and recommendations: The psychological impact of a pandemic lasts longer than the pandemic itself. This research made recommendations to students universities and future research.