Psychological Impact of Online Education on University Students

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2023.10917

Keywords:

Online education, Psychological impact, Saudi Arabia, Students

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Stressful events like the COVID-19 pandemic can significantly impact education. Online learning has become crucial in educational institutions such as schools, institutes, and universities.

AIM: This study’s purpose is to evaluate the psychological impact of online education on university students in Al-Madinah Al-Munawara.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered survey is designed based on previous studies and frameworks to assess the psychological impact of online education.

RESULTS: The present study showed that 21.8% of students always had trouble concentrating through the online learning process. About 23.4% had thoughts that their ability to study is impaired. About 19.8% found it difficult to work up. There is a negative impact on psychological health because 13.9% feel agitated, 20.8% become nervous, 20.6% become watchful and on guard, and 21.8% are usually distressed and find it difficult to relax. The sleep mode was also affected in 19.0% of participants, besides lack of interest which was noted in 17.7%. Hence, students experienced harmful and unwanted psychological impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown period.

CONCLUSION: Results of the present study suggest a relation between online education and the negative psychological status of students. Students experienced increased depression, anxiety, and stress that had a negative effect on their daily schedule and social well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Plum Analytics Artifact Widget Block

Author Biographies

Heba El-Sayed Mostafa, Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

-

Dana Alahmadi, Department of Pediatric

-

Shahad Jorob, Department of Pediatric

-

Lubna Murtada , Department of Pediatric

-

Razan Aloufi, Department of Pediatric, Maternity and Children Hospital, Madina, Saudi Arabia

-

Sereen Almeshaly, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ohud Hospital, Madina, Saudi Arabia

-

Raghad Aloufi, Department of General Surgery, Miqat General Hospital, Madina, Saudi Arabia

-

References

Wang C, Horby PW, Hayden FG, Gao GF. A novel coronavirus outbreak of global health concern. Lancet. 2020;395(10223):470-3. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30185-9 PMid:31986257 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30185-9

Linton NM, Kobayashi T, Yang Y, Hayashi K, Akhmetzhanov AR, Jung SM, et al. Incubation period and other epidemiological characteristics of 2019 novel Coronavirus infections with right truncation: A statistical analysis of publicly available case data. J Clin Med. 2020;9(2):538. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9020538 PMid:32079150 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9020538

Chiodini J. Maps, masks and media-traveller and practitioner resources for 2019 novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) acute respiratory virus. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2020;33:101574. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101574 PMid:32044387 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101574

MOH. MOH Reports First Case of Coronavirus Infection. New Delhi: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; 2020. Available from: https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/ministry/mediacenter/news/pages/news-2020-03-02-002.aspx [Last accessed on 2022 Aug 29].

Alkhamees AA, Alrashed SA, Alzunaydi AA, Almohimeed AS, Aljohani MS. The psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the general population of Saudi Arabia. Compr Psychiatry. 2020;102:152192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2020.152192 PMid:32688022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2020.152192

Bruch E, Feinberg F. Decision-making processes in social contexts. Annu Rev Sociol. 2017;43:207-27. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-060116-053622 PMid:28785123 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-060116-053622

Rubin GJ, Potts HW, Michie S. The impact of communications about swine flu (influenza A H1N1v) on public responses to the outbreak: Results from 36 national telephone surveys in the UK. Health Technol Assess. 2010;14(34):183-266. https://doi.org/10.3310/hta14340-03 PMid:20630124 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3310/hta14340-03

Brooks SK, Webster RK, Smith LE, Woodland L, Wessely S, Greenberg N, et al. The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: Rapid review of the evidence. Lancet. 2020;395(10227):912-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30460-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30460-8

AlNajjar NS, Attar LM, Farahat FM, AlThaqafi A. Psychobehavioural responses to the 2014 middle east respiratory syndrome-novel corona virus (MERS CoV) among adults in two shopping malls in Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia. East Mediterr Health J. 2017;22(11):817-23. https://doi.org/10.26719/2016.22.11.817 PMid:28177112 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26719/2016.22.11.817

Meccawy M, Meccawy Z, Alsobhi A. Teaching and learning in survival mode: Students and faculty perceptions of distance education during the COVID-19 lockdown. Sustainability. 2021;13(14):8053. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13148053 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13148053

Armstrong-Mensah E, Ramsey-White K, Yankey B, Self-Brown S. COVID-19 and distance learning: Effects on Georgia state university school of public health students. Front Public Health. 2020;8:576227. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.576227 PMid:33102425 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.576227

Chakraborty P, Mittal P, Gupta MS, Yadav S, Arora A. Opinion of students on online education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hum Behav Emerg Technol. 2021;3(3):357-65. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbe2.240 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hbe2.240

Bao W. COVID-19 and online teaching in higher education: A case study of Peking university. Hum Behav Emerg Technol. 2020;2(2):113-5. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbe2.191 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hbe2.191

Wang Y, Zhao X, Feng Q, Liu L, Yao Y, Shi J. Psychological assistance during the Coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak in China. J Health Psychol. 2020;25(6):733-7. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105320919177 PMid:32301628 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105320919177

Ngasa SN, Sama CB, Dzekem BS, Nforchu KN, Tindong M, Aroke D, et al. Prevalence and factors associated with depression among medical students in Cameroon: A cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry. 2017;17(1):216. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1382-3 PMid:28599624 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1382-3

O’Byrne L, Gavin B, McNicholas F. Medical students and COVID-19: The need for pandemic preparedness. J Med Ethics. 2020;46(9):623-6. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2020-106353 PMid:32493713 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2020-106353

Karp JF, Levine AS. Mental health services for medical students time to act. N Engl J Med. 2018;379(13):1196-8. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp1803970 PMid:30257155 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp1803970

Azad N, Shahid A, Abbas N, Shaheen A, Munir N. Anxiety and depression in medical students of a private medical college. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad. 2017;29(1):123-7. PMid:28712190

Mirza I, Jenkins R. Risk factors, prevalence, and treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders in Pakistan: Systematic review. BMJ. 2004;328(7443):794. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.328.7443.794 PMid:15070634 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.328.7443.794

Alsairafi Z, Naser AY, Alsaleh FM, Awad A, Jalal Z. Mental health status of healthcare professionals and students of health sciences faculties in Kuwait during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(4):2203. https://doi. org/10.3390/ijerph18042203 PMid:33672372 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042203

Saravanan C, Mahmoud I, Elshami W, Taha MH. Knowledge, anxiety, fear, and psychological distress about COVID-19 among university students in the United Arab Emirates. Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:582189. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.582189 PMid:33192728 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.582189

Hossain MJ, Ahmmed F, Rahman SM, Sanam S, Emran TB, Mitra S. Impact of online education on fear of academic delay and psychological distress among university students following one year of COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh. Heliyon. 2021;7(6):e07388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07388 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07388

Kedraka K, Kaltsidis C. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on university pedagogy: Students’ experiences and considerations. Eur J Educ Stud. 2020;7(8):17-30. https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v7i8.3176 DOI: https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v7i8.3176

Wilson JM, Lee J, Fitzgerald HN, Oosterhoff B, Sevi B, Shook NJ. Job insecurity and financial concern during the COVID-19 pandemic are associated with worse mental health. J Occup Environ Med. 2020;62(9):686-91. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001962 PMid:32890205 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001962

Traeger L. Distraction (coping strategy). In: Gellman MD, Turner JR, editors Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. New York: Springer; 2013. p. 610-1.

Zhang W, Wang Y, Yang L, Wang C. Suspending classes without stopping learning: China’s education emergency management policy in the COVID-19 outbreak. J Risk Financ Manag. 2020;13(3):55. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm13030055 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm13030055

Al-Tammemi AB, Akour A, Alfalah L. Is it just about physical health? An online cross-sectional study exploring the psychological distress among university students in Jordan in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychol. 2020;11:562213. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.562213 PMid:33240151 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.562213

Xiao C. A novel approach of consultation on 2019 novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)-related psychological and mental problems: Structured letter therapy. Psychiatry Investig. 2020;17(2):175-6. https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2020.0047 PMid:32093461 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2020.0047

Luethi M, Meier B, Sandi C. Stress effects on working memory, explicit memory, and implicit memory for neutral and emotional stimuli in healthy men. Front Behav Neurosci. 2009;2:5. https://doi.org/10.3389/neuro.08.005.2008 PMid:19169362 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/neuro.08.005.2008

Downloads

Published

2023-01-01

How to Cite

1.
Mostafa HE-S, Alahmadi D, Jorob S, Murtada L, Aloufi R, Almeshaly S, Aloufi R. Psychological Impact of Online Education on University Students. Open Access Maced J Med Sci [Internet]. 2023 Jan. 1 [cited 2024 Apr. 19];11(B):9-14. Available from: https://oamjms.eu/index.php/mjms/article/view/10917

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.