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The Psychological Impact of Strict and Prolonged Confinement on Business Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic at a Spanish University

Author

Listed:
  • Anne Marie Garvey

    (Social Dimension and COVID-19, Interdisciplinary Research, Department of Economics and Management, Universidad de Alcalá, 28802 Madrid, Spain)

  • Inmaculada Jimeno García

    (Social Dimension and COVID-19, Interdisciplinary Research, Department of Economics and Management, Universidad de Alcalá, 28802 Madrid, Spain)

  • Sara Helena Otal Franco

    (Social Dimension and COVID-19, Interdisciplinary Research, Department of Economics and Management, Universidad de Alcalá, 28802 Madrid, Spain)

  • Carlos Mir Fernández

    (Social Dimension and COVID-19, Interdisciplinary Research, Department of Economics and Management, Universidad de Alcalá, 28802 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

The study was carried out to examine the situation of university students from one month after the beginning of a very strict confinement process in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students responded to a survey which included the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) together with other questions relating to their general well-being from the European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS). A total of 198 university students answered the web-based survey. The questionnaire was generated using Microsoft Forms and was explained and distributed online. The results indicated that around 18.7% of students were suffering from severe anxiety and 70.2% were suffering either mild or moderate anxiety at this point of the strict confinement process. The findings show that when emotional well-being (quality of sleep, the perception of feeling fear, death of a relative) is reduced and material well-being is negatively affected (income level) anxiety levels are increased. On the other hand, the results show that having good interpersonal relationships with family members and taking care of personal development (routines and habits that make them feel good) help reduce anxiety levels. The female students in the sample also suffered higher levels of anxiety than males during strict confinement.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne Marie Garvey & Inmaculada Jimeno García & Sara Helena Otal Franco & Carlos Mir Fernández, 2021. "The Psychological Impact of Strict and Prolonged Confinement on Business Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic at a Spanish University," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-13, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1710-:d:497165
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Imran Aslan & Dominika Ochnik & Orhan Çınar, 2020. "Exploring Perceived Stress among Students in Turkey during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Xin Li & Peixin Lu & Lianting Hu & Tianhui Huang & Long Lu, 2020. "Factors Associated with Mental Health Results among Workers with Income Losses Exposed to COVID-19 in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-11, August.
    3. Azzeddine Madani & Saad Eddine Boutebal & Christopher Robin Bryant, 2020. "The Psychological Impact of Confinement Linked to the Coronavirus Epidemic COVID-19 in Algeria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-13, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Laura Parte & Teresa Herrador-Alcaide, 2021. "Teaching Disruption by COVID-19: Burnout, Isolation, and Sense of Belonging in Accounting Tutors in E-Learning and B-Learning," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-22, September.
    2. José M. Ramírez-Hurtado & Alfredo G. Hernández-Díaz & Ana D. López-Sánchez & Víctor E. Pérez-León, 2021. "Measuring Online Teaching Service Quality in Higher Education in the COVID-19 Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-14, March.
    3. Shefali Liyanage & Kiran Saqib & Amber Fozia Khan & Tijhiana Rose Thobani & Wang-Choi Tang & Cameron B. Chiarot & Bara’ Abdallah AlShurman & Zahid Ahmad Butt, 2021. "Prevalence of Anxiety in University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Krisztina Szegedi & Zsuzsanna Győri & Tímea Juhász, 2024. "Factors affecting quality of life and learning-life balance of university students in business higher education," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.

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