Avorgbedor Forgive, Vilme Helene
School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA.
Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University, School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
Eur J Educ Stud. 2021;8(12):161-173. doi: 10.46827/ejes.v8i12.4018.
The objective of this qualitative study was to explore the psychological well-being of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight their experience as caregivers. A total of 1444 college students responded to the questionnaire on the impact of COVID-19 on their lives. Qualitative responses from 25 female and 7 male college students who serve as caregivers were analyzed. Data were assessed using thematic analyses. The analysis revealed that college students' caregiving experiences impacted every aspect of their lives, including psychological health, academic performance, and career. Students who served as caregivers indicated that the mandated "Stay-at-Home" order resulted in homeschooling children, working from home, and attending school via online at home, limiting space for work, school, childcare, and homeschool. This led to increased stress, difficulty finding childcare, a drop in GPA for some, fear of delayed graduation, and financial distress.
University students serving as caregivers were negatively affected during the pandemic. These individuals play a significant role in the workforce; therefore, rethinking resources and policies promoting their success as they serve their loved ones is in society's best interest.
本定性研究的目的是探讨新冠疫情期间大学生的心理健康状况，并突出他们作为照顾者的经历。共有1444名大学生回应了关于新冠疫情对其生活影响的问卷。对25名担任照顾者的女大学生和7名男大学生的定性回答进行了分析。数据采用主题分析法进行评估。分析表明，大学生的照顾经历影响了他们生活的方方面面，包括心理健康、学业成绩和职业发展。担任照顾者的学生表示，强制实施的“居家”令导致在家教育孩子、在家工作以及在家通过网络上学，限制了工作、学习、育儿和家庭教育的空间。这导致压力增加、难以找到育儿服务、部分学生的平均绩点下降、担心毕业延迟以及经济困境。
在疫情期间，担任照顾者的大学生受到了负面影响。这些人在劳动力中发挥着重要作用；因此，重新思考促进他们在照顾亲人时取得成功的资源和政策符合社会的最大利益。
