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Emotional support received moderates academic stress and mental well-being in a sample of Afghan university students amid COVID-19

Author

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  • Zane Asher Green
  • Farkhonda Faizi
  • Rahmatullah Jalal
  • Zarifa Zadran

Abstract

Background: Academic stress experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered high levels of anxiety and depression and other severe mental health issues among university students around the globe. In Afghanistan, there is a paucity of research on the academic and mental health issues of Afghan university students and none pertaining to their academic stress and mental well-being amid the pandemic. Aim: This research examines the potential stress-buffering role of emotional support received between academic stress and mental well-being in a sample of Afghan university students during the COVID-19 outbreak. Method: The study sample comprised 508 Afghan university students. An online survey was developed for data collection. Model 1 of the PROCESS macro was used to conduct the moderation analysis. Results: These indicate that moderate and high levels of emotional support received may protect against the negative effects of higher levels of academic stress on mental well-being. Conclusion: This research makes an important contribution to the literature on social support. It may be inferred from the results that Afghan university students who experience academic stress, but have strong emotional support are able to attain greater mental well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak as compared to those with weak emotional support. Results may encourage mental health practitioners, university counselors, education administrators, and faculty to jointly formulate strategies for offering emotional support to Afghan university students.

Suggested Citation

  • Zane Asher Green & Farkhonda Faizi & Rahmatullah Jalal & Zarifa Zadran, 2022. "Emotional support received moderates academic stress and mental well-being in a sample of Afghan university students amid COVID-19," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 68(8), pages 1748-1755, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:68:y:2022:i:8:p:1748-1755
    DOI: 10.1177/00207640211057729
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zane Asher Green & Uzma Noor & Firoza Ahmed, 2020. "The Body–Mind–Spirit Dimensions of Wellness Mediate Dispositional Gratitude and Life Satisfaction," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(8), pages 3095-3119, December.
    2. Chi-Ming Hsieh & Bi-Kun Tsai, 2019. "Effects of Social Support on the Stress-Health Relationship: Gender Comparison among Military Personnel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Md. Shahed Mahmud & Mesbah Uddin Talukder & Sk. Mahrufur Rahman, 2021. "Does ‘Fear of COVID-19’ trigger future career anxiety? An empirical investigation considering depression from COVID-19 as a mediator," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(1), pages 35-45, February.
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    1. Adriano Bressane & Líliam César de Castro Medeiros & Yasmim Cardoso Damasceno Lima, 2025. "Five-Step Forest Bathing Protocol as a Nature-Based Solution for Student Wellbeing in Higher Education: A Research Brief on Insights and Lessons from a Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(4), pages 1-17, April.

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