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Class of 2020 in Poland: Students’ Mental Health during the COVID-19 Outbreak in an Academic Setting

Author

Listed:
  • Tomasz Wieczorek

    (Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Wrocław Medical University, ul. Pasteura 10, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Agata Kołodziejczyk

    (Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Wrocław Medical University, ul. Pasteura 10, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Marta Ciułkowicz

    (Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Wrocław Medical University, ul. Pasteura 10, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Julian Maciaszek

    (Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Wrocław Medical University, ul. Pasteura 10, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Błażej Misiak

    (Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Wrocław Medical University, ul. Pasteura 10, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Joanna Rymaszewska

    (Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Wrocław Medical University, ul. Pasteura 10, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Dorota Szcześniak

    (Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Wrocław Medical University, ul. Pasteura 10, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic had led universities to introduce lockdowns, which has led to significant shifts in students’ lives. Classes were moved online, students had to leave dorms and move; they had to forgo regular meetings with their peers. Subsequently, a vital demand for examining students’ mental health emerged. The data were collected at a time when universities in Poland were under lockdowns. Participants represented students of many different fields of study. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was used. Student’s subjective evaluation of online learning and their adaptation to academic life shifts were reviewed. A total of 1123 participants took part in this study. Relationship analysis included tests, such as U Mann–Whitney, appropriate for specific variables. The impact of variables connected with the pandemic on the GHQ scores was tested using multivariate regression analysis. The results were considered significant at a p -value set at 0.05. Overall, 76.96% of the participants manifested psychopathological symptoms measured by the GHQ. Four demographical variables were possibly associated with the GHQ scores: female sex, living in a big city, necessity to move back home, and being in a relationship. Negative correlations between subjective evaluation of variables concerning e-learning, such as its efficiency or quality, and the GHQ scores were found. Some variables were found to be potential protective factors, whereas others could have contributed to worsened mental health. The study provides data on students’ worsened mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shifts in academic life it caused. Therefore, recommendations for early psychosocial interventions among students are strongly advised.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomasz Wieczorek & Agata Kołodziejczyk & Marta Ciułkowicz & Julian Maciaszek & Błażej Misiak & Joanna Rymaszewska & Dorota Szcześniak, 2021. "Class of 2020 in Poland: Students’ Mental Health during the COVID-19 Outbreak in an Academic Setting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-14, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:2884-:d:515302
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    4. Mateusz Łuc & Marcin Pawłowski & Arkadiusz Jaworski & Karolina Fila-Witecka & Dorota Szcześniak & Hanna Augustyniak-Bartosik & Dorota Zielińska & Aleksandra Stefaniak & Anna Pokryszko-Dragan & Justyna, 2023. "Coping of Chronically-Ill Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Comparison between Four Groups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Carla Barros & Ana Sacau-Fontenla, 2021. "New Insights on the Mediating Role of Emotional Intelligence and Social Support on University Students’ Mental Health during COVID-19 Pandemic: Gender Matters," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Karolina Fila-Witecka & Monika Malecka & Adrianna Senczyszyn & Tomasz Wieczorek & Mieszko Wieckiewicz & Dorota Szczesniak & Patryk Piotrowski & Joanna Rymaszewska, 2022. "Sleepless in Solitude—Insomnia Symptoms Severity and Psychopathological Symptoms among University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-18, February.
    7. Jingjing Zhao & Mengyu Yan & Bingbing Fan & Yueyang Zhang & Anwar Oguz & Yuying Wang & Juzhe Xi, 2022. "Changing Social Mentality among University Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Five-Wave Longitudinal Study in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-19, March.
    8. Mateusz Marciniak & Sylwia Jaskulska & Slaven Gasparovic & Brigita Janiūnaitė & Jolita Horbačauskienė & Renata Glavak Tkalić, 2022. "The Psychological Well-Being and Civic Engagement of Polish, Croatian and Lithuanian Academic Students during COVID-19 Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-17, September.

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