Description
University students face innumerable challenges during the COVID-19 global pandemic, including a shift to remote learning, issues creating dedicated work environments in the home, and losing access to on-campus resources. Given the local and national lockdown orders that have constantly changed since March 2020, some students have reported feelings of isolation, loneliness, increased stress, and decreased motivation, both socially and academically. This study measured the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Master of Social Work (MSW) students and MSW alumni from the class of 2020 at San Diego State University (SDSU). Specifically, the study aimed to 1) understand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on student's mental health, well-being, academic success, and interpersonal relationships, 2) analyze the students' experiences as they navigate the uncharted territory of attending a graduate education during a global pandemic. The researcher developed a cross-sectional Qualtrics online survey and disseminated it using a non-probability, purposive, convenience online sampling method. The first hundred students or alumni that completed the study between November 2020 to February 2021 were included. The survey measures included the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Psychological Wellbeing Scale (PWS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Mindful Self- care Scale (MSCS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Perceived Academic Stress Scale (PASS), Multidimensional Social Support Scale (MSSS), Friendship Support Scale (FSS) and the Brief Resilience Scale (BSS). The analysis included pre-and-post T-tests, to compare scores from pre-pandemic and current conditions within one point in time. The results indicated a significant difference in the variable scores of participants from before the COVID-19 pandemic to during the pandemic of life satisfaction, self-care implementation, perceived academic stress, friendships, and resilience. This is an important topic of research as the biological, societal, and social implications of this unprecedented global pandemic will be felt for generations to come. The graduates and alumni of the SDSU MSW program will be at the forefront of mental health care in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
