Psychosocial Reactions of Pakistani Students Towards COVID-19: A Prevalence Study

Zahid Mahmood; Sadia Saleem; Sara Subhan; Ayesha Jabeen

doi:10.12669/pjms.37.2.3063

Psychosocial Reactions of Pakistani Students Towards COVID-19: A Prevalence Study

Pak J Med Sci. 2021 Mar-Apr;37(2):456-460. doi: 10.12669/pjms.37.2.3063.

Authors

Zahid Mahmood¹, Sadia Saleem², Sara Subhan³, Ayesha Jabeen⁴

Affiliations

¹ Zahid Mahmood, PhD. Department of Clinical Psychology, under School of Professional Psychology, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.
² Sadia Saleem, PhD. Department of Clinical Psychology, under School of Professional Psychology, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.
³ Sara Subhan, PhD. Department of Clinical Psychology, under School of Professional Psychology, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.
⁴ Ayesha Jabeen, Department of Clinical Psychology, under School of Professional Psychology, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.

Abstract

Background: The current study aimed at investigating the manifestation and prevalence of the commonly reported psychosocial reactions in the university students following the onset of COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey was carried out during April to May, 2020 in the city of Lahore. Based on the interviews and presenting problems of thirty-nine self-referred students to student counselling service center, a list of twenty-seven self-report measure was presented through an online cross-sectional survey of 510 students enrolled in a private institute. The age range of the participants was between 17-26 years (M, 21.86; SD, 2.94).

Results: The results showed that the most frequently reported reactions by university students during COVID-19 is restricted daily routine (92%), preoccupation with cleanliness (86%), feeling uncertain about future (85%), feeling bored (84%) and low mood (84%). The least frequently reported reaction was financial crisis (48%). The findings further showed that 18% of the participants had mild, 34% had moderate, 29% severe and 19% very severe level of problems.

Conclusions: The finding revealed that university students have significantly affected by this pandemic which need attention from mental health professionals.

Keywords: Anxiety; COVID-19; Depression; Students.