Abstract
AIM
This study aimed to evaluate and analyze the data collected from the circulation of the DASS-42 questionnaire throughout the departments in FHS of UJ in terms of students’ stress, anxiety, and depression level during the COVID-19 pandemic. The secondary aim of this study was to evaluate how students' psychological responses differ within each department of the FHS concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. The tertiary aim of this study was to determine how the psychological responses of students of different years within their respective departments of the FHS differ.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This study was a cross-sectional, quantitative, exploratory study using secondary data collected during 2021 to investigate the psychological response of students in terms of depression, anxiety, and stress to the COVID-19 pandemic in the departments of the FHS at UJ.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
For depression, the mean score was 12.15, which fell in the “mild” category on the DASS severity rating index. For anxiety, the mean score was 9.56, which fell in the “mild” category on the DASS severity rating index. For stress, the mean score was 14.30, which fell in the “normal” category on the DASS severity rating index.
It was reported that 35,8% of the students experienced “moderate” to “extremely severe” levels of depression, 41.7% of the students experienced “moderate” to “extremely severe” levels of anxiety, and 30.3% of the students experienced “moderate” to “extremely severe” levels of stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CONCLUSION
A significant number of students had adverse psychological responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chiropractic students experienced higher stress levels than their podiatry, emergency medical care, and sports management diploma counterparts. Finally, senior students experienced higher levels of stress than junior students.
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KEYWORDS
Psychological responses, COVID-19, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, DASS-42, depression, anxiety, and stress.