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Impacts of COVID-19 and social isolation on academic staff and students at universities: A cross-sectional study
Leal Filho, Walter Wall, Tony Rayman-Bacchus, Lez Mifsud, Mark Pritchard, Diana Orlovic Lovren, Violeta Farinha, Carla Sofia Petrovic, Danijela Balogun, Abdul-Lateef
Leal Filho, Walter
Wall, Tony
Rayman-Bacchus, Lez
Mifsud, Mark
Pritchard, Diana
Orlovic Lovren, Violeta
Farinha, Carla Sofia
Petrovic, Danijela
Balogun, Abdul-Lateef
Advisors
Editors
Other Contributors
EPub Date
Publication Date
2021-06-24
Submitted Date
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Article - VoR
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Abstract
The impacts of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the shutdown it triggered at universities across the world, led to a great degree of social isolation among university staff and students. The aim of this study was to identify the perceived consequences of this on staff and their work and on students and their studies at universities.
Method
The study used a variety of methods, which involved an on-line survey on the influences of social isolation using a non-probability sampling. More specifically, two techniques were used, namely a convenience sampling (i.e. involving members of the academic community, which are easy to reach by the study team), supported by a snow ball sampling (recruiting respondents among acquaintances of the participants). A total of 711 questionnaires from 41 countries were received. Descriptive statistics were deployed to analyse trends and to identify socio-demographic differences. Inferential statistics were used to assess significant differences among the geographical regions, work areas and other socio-demographic factors related to impacts of social isolation of university staff and students.
Results
The study reveals that 90% of the respondents have been affected by the shutdown and unable to perform normal work or studies at their institution for between 1 week to 2 months. While 70% of the respondents perceive negative impacts of COVID 19 on their work or studies, more than 60% of them value the additional time that they have had indoors with families and others. .
Conclusions
While the majority of the respondents agree that they suffered from the lack of social interaction and communication during the social distancing/isolation, there were significant differences in the reactions to the lockdowns between academic staff and students. There are also differences in the degree of influence of some of the problems, when compared across geographical regions. In addition to policy actions that may be deployed, further research on innovative methods of teaching and communication with students is needed in order to allow staff and students to better cope with social isolation in cases of new or recurring pandemics.
Citation
Leal Filho, W., Wall, T., Rayman-Bacchus, L., Mifsud, M., Pritchard, D., Orlovic Lovren, V., ... Balogun, A. (2021). Impacts of COVID-19 and social isolation on academic staff and students at universities: A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 21, 1213. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11040-z
Publisher
BioMed Central
Journal
BMC Public Health
Research Unit
DOI
10.1186/s12889-021-11040-z
PubMed ID
PubMed Central ID
Type
Article
Language
Description
Series/Report no.
ISSN
EISSN
1471-2458