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Psychological Wellbeing and Academic Experience of University Students in Australia during COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Rachael H. Dodd

    (Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia)

  • Kevin Dadaczynski

    (Department of Nursing and Health Science, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, 36037 Fulda, Germany
    Centre for Applied Health Science, Leuphana University Lueneburg, 21335 Lueneburg, Germany)

  • Orkan Okan

    (Interdisciplinary Centre for Health Literacy Research, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany)

  • Kirsten J. McCaffery

    (Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia)

  • Kristen Pickles

    (Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia)

Abstract

COVID-19 has created significant challenges for higher education institutions and major disruptions in teaching and learning. To explore the psychological wellbeing of domestic and international university students during the COVID-19 pandemic, an online cross-sectional survey recruited 787 university students (18+ years) currently studying at an Australian university. In total, 86.8% reported that COVID-19 had significantly impacted their studies. Overall, 34.7% of students reported a sufficient level of wellbeing, while 33.8% showed low wellbeing and 31.5% very low wellbeing. Wellbeing was significantly higher in postgraduate students compared with undergraduate students. Future anxiety was significantly greater among undergraduate than postgraduate students. Multivariable regression models showed female gender, low subjective social status, negative overall learning experience or reporting COVID-19 having a huge impact on study, were associated with lower wellbeing in the first few months (May–July) of the pandemic. Supporting the health, wellbeing, and learning experiences of all students should be of high priority now and post-pandemic. Strategies specifically targeting female students, and those with low self-reported social status are urgently needed to avoid exacerbating existing disparities.

Suggested Citation

  • Rachael H. Dodd & Kevin Dadaczynski & Orkan Okan & Kirsten J. McCaffery & Kristen Pickles, 2021. "Psychological Wellbeing and Academic Experience of University Students in Australia during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-12, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:3:p:866-:d:483745
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    Cited by:

    1. Robert Tholen & Koen Ponnet & Guido Van Hal & Sara De Bruyn & Veerle Buffel & Sarah Van de Velde & Piet Bracke & Edwin Wouters, 2022. "Substance Use among Belgian Higher Education Students before and during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-13, April.
    2. Xuemei Zhu & Qian Gong & Qi Wang & Yongjie He & Ziqi Sun & Feifei Liu, 2023. "Analysis of Students’ Online Learning Engagement during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of a SPOC-Based Geography Education Undergraduate Course," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-15, March.
    3. Nam Hoang Tran & Nhien Thi Nguyen & Binh Thanh Nguyen & Quang Ngoc Phan, 2022. "Students’ Perceived Well-Being and Online Preference: Evidence from Two Universities in Vietnam during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.
    4. William E. Donald & Denise Jackson, 2022. "Subjective Wellbeing among University Students and Recent Graduates: Evidence from the United Kingdom," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-17, June.
    5. Irena Pandža Bajs & Vanda Bazdan & Irena Guszak, 2024. "Quality of instructor, fear of COVID-19, and students’ anxiety as predictors of student satisfaction and academic effort in online classes," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Wandeep Kaur & Vimala Balakrishnan & Yoke Yong Chen & Jeyarani Periasamy, 2022. "Mental Health Risk Factors and Coping Strategies among Students in Asia Pacific during COVID-19 Pandemic—A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-15, July.
    7. Hanif Abdul Rahman & Areekul Amornsriwatanakul & Khadizah H. Abdul-Mumin & Denny Agustiningsih & Surasak Chaiyasong & Michael Chia & Supat Chupradit & Le Quang Huy & Katiya Ivanovitch & Ira Nurmala & , 2022. "Prevalence of Health-Risk Behaviors and Mental Well-Being of ASEAN University Students in COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-15, July.
    8. Seema Mihrshahi & Putu Novi Arfirsta Dharmayani & Janaki Amin & Alexandra Bhatti & Josephine Y. Chau & Rimante Ronto & Diana Turnip & Melanie Taylor, 2022. "Higher Prevalence of Food Insecurity and Psychological Distress among International University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Australian Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-14, October.
    9. Roselyn J. Lee-Won & Inyoung Jang & Hyun-Suk Kim & Sung-Gwan Park, 2022. "The Relationship between Future Anxiety Due to COVID-19 and Vigilance: The Role of Message Fatigue and Autonomy Satisfaction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-16, January.
    10. Stefano Quarta & Annalisa Levante & María-Teresa García-Conesa & Flavia Lecciso & Egeria Scoditti & Maria Annunziata Carluccio & Nadia Calabriso & Fabrizio Damiano & Giuseppe Santarpino & Tiziano Verr, 2022. "Assessment of Subjective Well-Being in a Cohort of University Students and Staff Members: Association with Physical Activity and Outdoor Leisure Time during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-26, April.
    11. Chiara Lorini & Veronica Velasco & Guglielmo Bonaccorsi & Kevin Dadaczynski & Orkan Okan & Patrizio Zanobini & Luca P. Vecchio, 2022. "Validation of the COVID-19 Digital Health Literacy Instrument in the Italian Language: A Cross-Sectional Study of Italian University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-17, May.
    12. Begoña Serrano & Antonia Moreno & Fernando Díez & Elene Igoa-Iraola, 2024. "Analysis of Brand Positioning in Online Course Companies to Change Consumption Patterns—A Case Study in the Personal Wellbeing Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-17, June.
    13. Gülsen Erden & Asil Ali Özdoğru & Sami Çoksan & Hale Ögel-Balaban & Yakup Azak & İlkiz Altınoğlu-Dikmeer & Aysun Ergül-Topçu & Yeşim Yasak & Gözde Kıral-Uçar & Seda Oktay & Pelin Karaca-Dinç & Ezgi Di, 2022. "Social Contact, Academic Satisfaction, COVID-19 Knowledge, and Subjective Well-being Among Students at Turkish Universities: a Nine-University Sample," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(4), pages 2017-2039, August.
    14. Priyanka Das & Santosh Shukla & Vipin Shrivastav & Saurabh Purohit & Deepika Sharma & Sanjay Dhir & Sushil & Harkabir Singh Jandu & Meenal Kukreja & Mehak Bhatia & Nitin Kothari & Saurabh Sharma & Shy, 2024. "The role of community mobilization in people’s healthcare-seeking behavior during the COVID-19 vaccination journey: select case studies from Madhya Pradesh," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    15. Elisabeth Noehammer, 2022. "Students and Staff in Lockdown: Mental and Social Health in the Austrian Tertiary Education Sector," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    16. Tek B. Dangi & Tracy Michaud & Robyn Dumont & Tara Wheeler, 2022. "Differential Impacts of COVID-19 on College Student Tourism Jobs: Insights from Vacationland -Maine, USA," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 3(2), pages 1-27, June.
    17. Tauqeer Hussain Mallhi & Naveed Ahmad & Muhammad Salman & Nida Tanveer & Shahid Shah & Muhammad Hammad Butt & Ahmed D. Alatawi & Nasser Hadal Alotaibi & Hidayat Ur Rahman & Abdulaziz Ibrahim Alzarea &, 2022. "Estimation of Psychological Impairment and Coping Strategies during COVID-19 Pandemic among University Students in Saudi Arabia: A Large Regional Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-16, November.
    18. Carmem M. Cunha & Nathalie Dens & Georg D. Granic, 2023. "University Students’ Well-Being and Engagement in Activities in the Early Days of Covid-19," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(1), pages 279-303, February.
    19. Yulu Zhao & Xinye Xu & Gangwei Cai & Zhetao Hu & Yan Hong, 2022. "Promoting Strategies for Healthy Environments in University Halls of Residence under Regular Epidemic Prevention and Control: An Importance—Performance Analysis from Zhejiang, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-19, November.
    20. Sabina Potra & Adrian Pugna & Mădălin-Dorin Pop & Romeo Negrea & Luisa Dungan, 2021. "Facing COVID-19 Challenges: 1st-Year Students’ Experience with the Romanian Hybrid Higher Educational System," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-15, March.
    21. Carsten K. Bak & Jeanne Ø. Krammer & Kevin Dadaczynski & Okan Orkan & Jesper von Seelen & Christina Prinds & Lene M. Søbjerg & Heidi Klakk, 2022. "Digital Health Literacy and Information-Seeking Behavior among University College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study from Denmark," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-14, March.
    22. María F. Rivadeneira & María J. Miranda-Velasco & Hiram V. Arroyo & José D. Caicedo-Gallardo & Carmen Salvador-Pinos, 2022. "Digital Health Literacy Related to COVID-19: Validation and Implementation of a Questionnaire in Hispanic University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-14, March.
    23. Chang Liu & Melinda McCabe & Andrew Dawson & Chad Cyrzon & Shruthi Shankar & Nardin Gerges & Sebastian Kellett-Renzella & Yann Chye & Kim Cornish, 2021. "Identifying Predictors of University Students’ Wellbeing during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Data-Driven Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-10, June.

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