Student belongingness in higher education: Lessons for Professors from the COVID-19 pandemic

Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 18(4)

Published: Jan. 1, 2021

‘To learn about X, observe what happens to the system when X is removed.’ What higher education student experience when, during a pandemic, so many of avenues for building sense belonging are radically and fundamentally disrupted? How should we respond as individuals, collective sector, redress this? The national survey data in Australia has highlighted significant drop learner engagement their result pandemic. Indeed, pandemic been point anxiety students, educators, universities globally. We see unique opportunity critically examine belongingness among university students climate where normal feel they belong need establish new kind normal. In this article, seek articulate can be learned from instructors do improve it, even under difficult circumstances. found opportunities strengthen students’ online environments, necessary, how responses within constraints lockdown emergency remote teaching still support success.

Language: Английский

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A pandemic of social isolation?

World Psychiatry, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 20(1), P. 55 - 56

Published: Jan. 12, 2021

On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 infection a global pandemic, prompting closures and other restrictions across world. A substantial proportion of world population was suddenly homebound, giving us all small glimpse into experiences approximately 6% US older adults who were already homebound. Further have been implemented worldwide in relation to second wave infection. This raises questions about effects that social isolation may on our mental physical well-being. Public health concerns loneliness growing internationally even prior pandemic. In 2018, UK appointed Loneliness Minister published national strategy for tackling loneliness. US, National Academies Sciences, Engineering, Medicine released, just two weeks declaration an expert consensus report relevance care system1. Nonetheless, generally underrecognized underappreciated relative evidence supporting their public importance2. Evidence suggests significant portion socially isolated, lonely, or both, pandemic2. Social refers objectively being alone, having few relationships infrequent contacts; whereas subjectively feeling discrepancy between one’s desired level connection actual level. While international standardization measurement classification is needed provide more precise estimates prevalence changes over time, from both surveys raise concern. Several suggest has increased by 20-30% during can occur age, income levels, living situations gender; however, rates are highest among those at younger ages, with lower incomes, chronic conditions1, 3. These risk factors similar identified pre-COVID3. midst immediate dangers deadly novel virus understandably prioritized. However, result short- long-term cannot be ignored. The lethal immediate, case suicide domestic violence, long-term, disease-related deaths. International data 3.4 million people demonstrate association significantly death causes4. Conversely, connected protective increases odds survival 50%5. Cumulative decades research demonstrates magnitude mortality related comparable exceeds associated known problems (e.g., obesity, air pollution)2. Further, there compelling contribute morbidity, particularly cardiovascular disease stroke1. Furthermore, influence problematic behaviors, including substance use, poorer sleep eating habits. Lacking proximity others, trusted state alertness centrally peripherally. Problematic behaviors physiological potentially exacerbate precipitate onset acute events pre-existing diseases6. susceptibility They predict worse health, individuals conditions likely isolated lonely1. bidirectional noteworthy, since analysis population-wide electronic records found diagnosis infected hospitalized die COVID-197. recent paper summarizing 35-year program experiencing interpersonal stressors such as had greater chance developing upper respiratory illness when exposed cold viruses8. Steps limited contact pandemic becoming persistent nature, short-term longer-term will emerge if not mitigated. We take either-or position, pitting against must find way address risks promote health. What actionable steps prevent reduce COVID-19-related loneliness? systems approach recognizes individual, community societal interdependent loneliness9, thus each these levels need considered targeted. At individual level, shown high-quality interactions household members, interacting neighbors, providing support expressions gratitude, bonds negatively correlated we seen norms spaces, aimed reducing contact, implications Community leaders should foster support, inclusion trust, leading sense security, essential component group. every sector society only but also isolation-related readily apparent. Thus, begin evaluate existing local policies sectors (health care, transportation, education, housing, employment, nutrition, environment) aiming preserve quality contacts. needs forefront recovery plan. It clear how long ramifications persist. As create “new normal” adaptations they become permanent. For example, remote working norm digital tools increasingly adopted required; little equivalence in-person outcomes. There urgent rigorous scientific evaluation practices policies.

Language: Английский

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Adolescents' longitudinal trajectories of mental health and loneliness: The impact of COVID‐19 school closures

Journal of Adolescence, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 94(2), P. 191 - 205

Published: Feb. 1, 2022

Language: Английский

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The Effects of Playing Video Games on Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Loneliness, and Gaming Disorder During the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic: PRISMA Systematic Review

Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 25(6), P. 334 - 354

Published: May 31, 2022

During the initial phases of COVID-19 pandemic, playing video games has been much more than just a pastime. Studies suggested that for many individuals have helped to cope with such difficult life experience. However, other research indicates gaming may had harmful effects. Within this context, systematic review aimed describe literature on effects during early stages crisis stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and disorder (GD), examining study characteristics outcomes. A search was made following Preferred Reporting Items Systematic Reviews Meta-Analysis guidelines. It preregistered in International Platform Registered Review Protocols (INPLASY)—INPLASY202180053. The databases were PsycINFO, Web Science, Medline. string was: [(“video game*”) OR (“computer (“gaming”)] AND [(“COVID-19”)]. Twenty-four studies met inclusion criteria. Four explored pandemic depression. investigated while 18 game disorder. Video games, especially augmented reality online multiplayer ones, mitigated loneliness among adolescents young adults stay-at-home restrictions. case at-risk (i.e., particularly male youths), detrimental

Language: Английский

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Risk factors for loneliness: A literature review

Social Science & Medicine, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 334, P. 116163 - 116163

Published: Aug. 9, 2023

Increasingly, loneliness is being recognised as a serious problem with detrimental effects on health, well social cohesion and community trust. To effectively tackle this complex issue, clear understanding of the phenomenon its main drivers needed. Over years scientific research loneliness, many potential risk factors have emerged been tested empirically.This narrative review 109 studies provides concise summary empirical evidence for presents an additional section dedicated to COVID-19 pandemic.Given very large number existing studies, emphasis placed recent meta-analyses systematic literature reviews longitudinal studies. Similarly, given possible which may differ based geographical cultural context, focuses from Europe North America.The results show that demographic often correlate but in cases link becomes negligible when controlling other factors. Often, physical mental health problems are found be associated so some psychological factors, such neuroticism or extroversion. Loneliness also depends environment one lives, possibly broader socio-economic socio-cultural contexts. Nevertheless, shows ultimately everything comes down quantity quality relationships. In particular, marital status, living arrangements characteristics one's personal network quite consistently among strongest predictors loneliness. These findings about remained valid during pandemic.The implications policy, who most vulnerable groups key designing targeted policy solutions

Language: Английский

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