The psychological impact of COVID‐19 on students and academics at a Higher Education Institution in the UK

Abstract: Objective This study investigates the psychological impact of COVID‐19 on students and academics at a Higher Education Institution in the UK. Design We used critical reflective writing where ten students and ten lecturers wrote a short reflection (approximately 200 words) on their experience of the lockdown prior to the study. Secondly, transcriptions were gathered for analysis. Inductive Thematic Analysis was selected as the preferred method of investigation to identify, analyse, and report themes from the data set. Main Outcome Measures The specific study aims were: (a) To present an empirical investigation into the psychological impact of COVID‐19 (b) To explore the interplay between social isolation and mental health and (c) To examine how the affected individuals understand their experiences. Results The health impact of COVID-19 included both physiological and mental health aspects and it reflected the importance of teacher and student psychological wellbeing for teaching and learning. Conclusion The paper highlights that there is a need for psycho-social crisis prevention and intervention models tailored to support students and academics psychological wellbeing, arguing that considerations be made to adjust expectations from students in relation to progression, and staff in relation to workload.

Author(s): Dr Imose Itua, Dr Mvikeli Ncube, Ms. Molly Hunt, Ms. Amy Hunt

Date Published: October 07, 2021

Depositing User: Jawad Ali

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/vwjg2

Keywords: COVID-19, Infection control, Mental health, Student, Teacher

Pages: 1-31

Place of publication: Virginia

Publication title: OSFPRIPRINTS

Published URL: https://osf.io/preprints/osf/vwjg2_v1

Publisher: Center for Open Science

Subject(s): Psychology, Social and Behavioural Sciences, School Psychology

Type of publication: Research Article