E-Learning Satisfaction, Stress, Quality of Life, and Coping: A Cross-Sectional Study in Italian University Students a Year after the COVID-19 Pandemic Began

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jul 5;19(13):8214. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19138214.

Abstract

(1) Background: The objective was to investigate e-learning satisfaction in a sample of university students by evaluating quality of life, stress sociality, and coping. (2) Methods: This was an online survey involved 471 students attending the University of L'Aquila from June to July 2021. The primary goal was estimating the e-learning satisfaction as measured by the E-learning Satisfaction Scale, while the secondary outcomes were studying its relationship with demographic factors, the perception of quality of life, sociality, stress, and coping strategies using a hierarchical regression model. (3) Results: A total of 136 participants were males (29%); the mean age was 25 years. The results revealed that the satisfaction score was 30.6, and the mean stress level was 19.4. Students suffered psychologically and physically for 14 days a month. The sociality score was 36. With respect to coping strategies, students reported higher scores for "Acceptance" (6.0), "Active coping" (6.2), and "Planning" (6.4). E-learning satisfaction was significantly related to age and course attendance. It was positively associated with the social presence score and coping strategies such as self-blame and religion, while it was inversely related to stress and unhealthy days. (4) Conclusions: The students revealed a positive propensity to use e-learning despite the end of quarantine. Sociality, stress, quality of life, and coping seemed to play an important role in student's e-learning satisfaction.

Keywords: COVID-19; COVID-19 pandemic; college students; distance learning; e-learning; medical education; students; training satisfaction.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Computer-Assisted Instruction*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pandemics
  • Personal Satisfaction
  • Quality of Life
  • Students
  • Universities

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.