Exploring the Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 on Higher Education Students

Brief Summary

Detailed Description

The COVID-19 outbreak has been rapidly transmitted in late January 2020 and aroused enormous attention globally. Infected patients may develop severe and even fatal respiratory diseases (e.g., acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute respiratory failure) ending up in intensive care. Apart from physical suffering, it is not uncommon for confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 to suffer from great psychological pressure and other health-related problems. The limited knowledge of the COVID-19 and the overwhelming news may lead to anxiety and fear in the public. The public at large may also experience boredom, disappointment, and irritability under the isolation measures. Depression and anxiety are common mental health problems experienced by university students. Being in higher education is associated with many stressors and transitional events, and students fall within the age range when common mental health problems are at their developmental peak. Depression and anxiety can impair students' academic performance and social functioning, cause significant burden at university, and potentially affect their future career opportunities. The study includes 2 parts. Part A is an online survey study with non-probabilistic convenience sampling and part B is focus group interviews. This study aims to explore the psychological impact of COVID-19 and coping methods in higher education students.

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes

• Insomnia symptoms and the associated daytime impairment(baseline)
• Psychological response to trauma(baseline)
• Resilience(baseline)
• Attitude and practice students regarding preventive measures(baseline)
• Anxiety and depressive symptoms(baseline)