Dr Bhavna Barmi

 

COVID-19 has had an immense impact on present day society. There have been growing concerns for the safety and health of our loved ones. Several lockdowns have been imposed with the aim of restricting the spread of the virus, which has brought the functioning of society to a crashing halt. One of the sections of society that has been most influenced is the student community. Uninvited changes in the lives of all students due to the outbreak have become a cause for psychological distress.

The prevention of the infection demands social distancing, which has forced students to shift from a physical classroom to an online platform. A study found that 71 percent of student participants were experiencing an increase in anxiety and depressive symptoms. Moderate amounts of anxiety were experienced primarily due to concerns about health and academic performance, along with difficulty in concentrating. The dependence on technology has increased tenfold due to the pandemic, which has caused an increase in screen time for every individual.

For students, focussing on a single screen for extended hours and retaining information at the same time may prove to be a difficult task. Online classes lack the immersion and structure in routine that a physical class provides, thereby making it difficult for a student to concentrate. Moreover, constant exposure to a screen is known to cause disruptions in sleep cycles, reinforcing troubles with focussing. This, in turn, has caused students to be concerned about their academic performance, question the worth of their education and feel uncertain about their future.

 

A study conducted in India found that out of many occupations, students show the highest increase in depressive symptoms. The pandemic has restricted many students from meeting their friends and family, going out, and experiencing school and college life to the fullest. Moreover, idle time at home causes one to brood and engage in depressive thought. Individuals may gradually lose the motivation to exercise or engage in activities they once found pleasurable.

 

Students also face the consequences of having a dear one contract the virus or having contracted the virus themselves. Some suffer under the burden of taking care of their household, or are victims of domestic abuse, where their only escape was their school or college life. The severity of these issues is the highest amongst those from a lower socio-economic status, who are constantly concerned about the source of their daily necessities. Living in these conditions can hence cause scarring of one’s psychological well-being.