MENTAL HEALTH OF STUDENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Cilj istraživanja: Glavni cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je ispitati utjecaj pandemije COVID-19 na mentalno zdravlje studenata preddiplomskih studija Fakulteta zdravstvenih studija. Ispitanici i postupci: U istraživanju sudjelovalo je 93 studenta Fakulteta zdravstvenih studija u Rijeci. Istraživanje je provedeno tijekom svibnja 2021. godine putem online anketnog obrasca (Google obrazac). Mentalno zdravlje ispitivalo se putem DASS-21 upitnika (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale – 21), tehnike suočavanja ispitivale su se Kratkim upitnikom suočavanja (Brief COPE) te se za potrebe istraživanja kreirao poseban upitnik utjecaja protuepidemijskih mjera na svakodnevni život studenata. Rezultati: Povišena razina depresivnosti prisutna je kod 10,8%, anksioznosti 11,8% i stresa 8,6% studenata. Razine simptoma nisu bile značajno povezane s izloženošću koronavirusu, spolom ili godinom studiranja. Tehnike suočavanja koje studenti najviše koriste usmjerene su na aktivno suočavanje, nego na izbjegavanje ili poricanje. Dobivena je statistički značajna povezanost razine simptoma stresa zbog nemogućnosti pohađanja nastave uživo (r=0,23) te zbog nemogućnosti konzultacija s profesorom (r=0,21). Nemogućnost druženja s kolegama/prijateljima značajno je povezana s anksioznošću (r=0,25) te stresom (r=0,27). Zaključak: Rezultati ukazuju na značajnu prilagodbu studenata na pandemiju COVID-19, godinu dana nakon njezinog početka. Protupandemijske mjere koje utječu na život mladih, pogotovo one koje ograničavaju kontakt uživo povezane su većim razinama anksioznosti i stresa.Objective: The main objective of this research was to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of undergraduate students at the Faculty of Health Studies. Respondents and procedures: 93 students of the Faculty of Health Studies in Rijeka participated in the online survey during May 2021 (Google form). Mental health was assessed with Depression, Anxiety, and Stress questionnaire (DASS-21) and coping with Brief COPE. The impact of anti-pandemic measures on the daily life of students was measured by a questionnaire created for the study. Results: Elevated levels of depressiveness are present in 10.8%, anxiety 11.8% and stress 8.6% of students. Symptoms levels were not significantly related to the exposure to coronavirus, COVID-19, gender or year of study. The coping techniques mostly used by students are aimed at actively confronting, rather than avoiding or denying. Level of stress symptoms was significantly correlated with the inability to attend live classes (r=0.23) and the inability to consult a professor (r=0.21). The inability to socialize with colleagues/friends was significantly associated with anxiety (r=0.25) and stress (r=0.27). Conclusion: The results point to a significant adaptation of students to the COVID-19 pandemic, one year after its start. Anti-pandemic measures that affect young people's lives, especially those that limit live contact are associated with higher levels of anxiety and stress