The psychological effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on students at a University of Technology in KwaZulu-Natal

Abstract

Students across the world have been severely affected by the inevitable decision made by higher learning institutions to shut down as a response to the Coronavirus pandemic. The closure of universities affects all students and having far-reaching economic and psychosocial impacts, especially for those students who come from less fortunate backgrounds. This may have caused psychological distress among students. Many students are not coping very well as the learning resources that they could access on campus are now unavailable. This brings about the challenges of finding alternative learning platforms during this difficult period. The objective of this study was to investigate the psychological effects of COVID-19 on students at a University of Technology. A quantitative, cross-sectional approach and online survey questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents. The results revealed that several students have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and they are struggling to cope, both mentally and academically. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted several students psychologically. Students are apprehensive and anxious about the future of their studies. There is a need for the development of strategies that will assist students to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their mental health