Background: The declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2020 catapulted institutions of higher education into an emergency transition from face-to-face to online teaching. Given the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the continuing after-effects thereof, the study explored the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on academics.
Methods: A qualitative phenomenological research design was used to explore the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on academics. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews from a sample of 11 full-time academics permanently employed at six public and private higher education institutions in South Africa in 2020 and 2021. The data were analysed by means of thematic analysis.
Results: The study found that the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions had a largely negative psychological impact on academics in higher education. The most dominant negative emotions reported by participants included stress, anxiety, fear and guilt either due to the threat of the virus itself, potential for loss of life, lockdown restrictions, a new working environment, and/or their perceived inability to assist their students. Participants also reported feelings of emotional isolation and an increase in levels of emotional fatigue.
Conclusion: In conclusion, institutions of higher education need to be aware of the negative psychological impact of COVID-19 on academics, and ensure they create and foster environments that promote mental well-being. Institutions may offer psychological services and/or emotional well-being initiatives to their academic staff. They must create spaces and cultures where academics feel comfortable to request and seek well-being opportunities. In addition to mental and emotional well-being initiatives, institutions must provide academics with tangible teaching and learning support as this would go a long way in reducing much of the stress experienced by academics during the pandemic.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9724325 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40359-022-01008-y | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Self-Management Strategies for Low Back Pain Among Horticulture Workers: Protocol for a Type II Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Study.
JMIR Res Protoc
January 2025
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States.
Background: Low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent and disabling, especially in agriculture sectors. However, there is a gap in LBP prevention and intervention studies in these physically demanding occupations, and to date, no studies have focused on horticulture workers. Given the challenges of implementing interventions for those working in small businesses, self-management offers an attractive and feasible option to address work-related risk factors and manage LBP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMindfulness Intervention for Health Information Avoidance in Older Adults: Mixed Methods Study.
JMIR Public Health Surveill
January 2025
School of Arts and Media, Wuhan College, Wuhan, China.
Background: The global aging population and rapid development of digital technology have made health management among older adults an urgent public health issue. The complexity of online health information often leads to psychological challenges, such as cyberchondria, exacerbating health information avoidance behaviors. These behaviors hinder effective health management; yet, little research examines their mechanisms or intervention strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHealth and Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Children and Young People: Analysis of Free-Text Responses From the Children and Young People With Long COVID Study.
J Med Internet Res
January 2025
Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Background: The literature is equivocal as to whether the predicted negative mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic came to fruition. Some quantitative studies report increased emotional problems and depression; others report improved mental health and well-being. Qualitative explorations reveal heterogeneity, with themes ranging from feelings of loss to growth and development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhenomenological Description of the Experiences of Teenagers With Critically Ill Parents.
J Nurs Res
February 2025
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
Background: Critical illness not only threatens the life of the patient but also may profoundly impact the lives of their loved ones. For teenagers with a critically ill parent, these impacts may have significant, developmentally impactful effects. A descriptive understanding of these effects may advance scholarly understanding of the challenges these teenagers face.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExploring the clinical, psychological, and social relevance of menopause for trans and gender diverse people: a qualitative study.
Menopause
January 2025
From the Department of General Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the meanings and experiences of menopause for trans and gender diverse (TGD) people and how menopause affects clinical practice.
Methods: For this qualitative study in 2021-2022, a scoping literature review informed interview schedule development. Following email invitations, online semi-structured interviews were conducted in March-April 2021 in Australia with three prominent TGD community leaders (trans male, trans female, nonbinary person) and three experienced medical practitioners (general practitioner, endocrinologist, psychiatrist), which were audio-recorded and transcribed.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!