Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of university students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17058/psiunisc.v5i2.16348Keywords:
Impact, Covid-19, Mental health, University student.Abstract
This is a narrative literature review article, which aims to assess the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of university students. The data search took place during the month of March 2021, in 3 databases (Science Direct, BVS and PubMed). A total of 755 articles were found using the descriptors "Impact and Covid-19 and Mental Health and University student", of which, after the inclusion and exclusion process, 11 studies remained, which were fully explored for final analysis, under the Qualitative perspective of content analysis by Saldaña (2013). The results of this study lead us to conclude that the Covid-19 pandemic greatly affects the mental health of university students. Since the disease was considered a worldwide pandemic, academic activities at universities were closed (classes, postgraduate qualification exams, defenses and others) to contain the virus. The risks and impacts on mental health during this period include fear of infection by the virus, uncertainty about the end of the pandemic and the return to school, measures of prolonged social distancing, anxiety and other psychological discomforts aggravated by the lack of psychological support services. It is suggested, therefore, the implementation of psychological support services (which is the most effective virtual modality at this time of the pandemic) within universities, to promote the well-being and mental health of the university population.This is a narrative literature review article, which aims to assess the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of university students. The data search took place during the month of March 2021, in 3 databases (Science Direct, BVS and PubMed). A total of 755 articles were found using the descriptors "Impact and Covid-19 and Mental Health and University student", of which, after the inclusion and exclusion process, 11 studies remained, which were fully explored for final analysis, under the Qualitative perspective of content analysis by Saldaña (2013). The results of this study lead us to conclude that the Covid-19 pandemic greatly affects the mental health of university students. Since the disease was considered a worldwide pandemic, academic activities at universities were closed (classes, postgraduate qualification exams, defenses and others) to contain the virus. The risks and impacts on mental health during this period include fear of infection by the virus, uncertainty about the end of the pandemic and the return to school, measures of prolonged social distancing, anxiety and other psychological discomforts aggravated by the lack of psychological support services. It is suggested, therefore, the implementation of psychological support services (which is the most effective virtual modality at this time of the pandemic) within universities, to promote the well-being and mental health of the university population.Downloads
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