Online learning environment and mental health among university students

Annabelle Quilon; Yohan Kurniawan

doi:10.58870/berj.v8i1.54

Authors

Annabelle Quilon San Beda University
Yohan Kurniawan Universiti Malaysia Kelantan

Keywords:

Online learning, learning environment, mental health, university students

Abstract

Students’ experience of the pandemic required them to find ways to survive academically but, studies revealed that students’ learning and mental health are greatly affected by pandemic. Currently, much research explores topics such as effects of COVID-19 pandemic on education; teaching and learning; students' mental health. This study explores how online learning environment as to assignment, lecturer/friend, facilities & equipment, home & environment, and physical class affect the mental health of three hundred sixty-seven university students during COVID-19 pandemic at a private university in Manila, Philippines using a quantitative technique specifically causal research design. The participants voluntarily completed the survey questionnaire measuring learning environment and mental health adapted from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan. Research results revealed that the more university students negatively viewed online learning environment specifically in terms of assignment, lecturer/friend, facilities & equipment, home & environment, physical classes the more they have bad mental health. Moreover, findings showed that online learning environments such as home & environment were found to be the strongest predictor of mental health among university students. The study implies that distractions in home environment during online classes resulted in negative mental health of university students.

References

Akpinar, E. (2021). The effect of online learning on tertiary level students’ mental health during the covid-19 lockdown. The European Journal of Social and Behavioral Sciences. 30(1). https://www/doi.org/10.15405/ejsbs.288. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15405/ejsbs.288

Alam, M., Uddin, A., Uddin, M., Begum, S., Nahar, H., Raihan, T., & Khan, A. (2022). Mental health of students amidst the covid-19 pandemic: an empirical study. Heliyon, 8, e09111. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09111

Alibudbud, R. (2021). On online learning and mental health during the covid-19

pandemic: perspectives from the philippines. Asian J. Psychiatr, 66: 102867, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102867 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102867

Al-Mawee, W., Kwayu, K., & Gharaibeh, T. (2021). Student’s perspective on distance learning during Covid-19 pandemic: a case study of western michigan university, United States. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 2, 100080, https://www.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.ijedro.2021.100080 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2021.100080

Alshammari, T., Alseraye, S., Alqasim, R., Rogowska, A., Alrasheed, N. & Alshammari, M. (2022). Examining anxiety and stress regarding virtual learning in colleges of health sciences: a cross-sectional study in the era of covid-19 pandemic in saudi arabia. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal 30, 256-264, https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2022.01.010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2022.01.010

Alyoubi, A., Halstead, E., Zambelli, Z., Dimitriou, D. (2021). The impact of the covid 19 pandemic on students’ mental health and sleep in saudi arabia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 9344. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18179344

Balta-Salvador, R., Olmedo-Torre, N., Pena, M., & Renta-Davids, A. (2021). Academic and emotional effects of online learning during the covid-19 pandemic on engineering students. Education and Information Technologies, 26: 7407-7434, https://www.doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10593-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10593-1

Barrot, J., Llenares, I., & Del Rosario, L. (2021). Students’ online learning challenges during the pandemic and how they cope with them: the case in the philippines. Education and Information Technologies, 26, 7321-7338. https://www.doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10589-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10589-x

Basarmak, U. & Mahiroglu, A. (2016). The effects of online learning environment based on caricature animation used in science and technology course on the success and attitude of the student for humor. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology,

(4).

Bhugra, D., Till, A., & Sartorius, N. (2013). What is mental health? International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 59(1) 3-4, https://www.doi.org/10.1177/0020764012463315 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764012463315

Chen, T. & Lucock, M. (2022). The mental health of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: an online survey. PLOS ONE, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262562. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262562

Coman, C., Tiru, L., Mesesan-Schmitz, L., Stanciu, C., & Bularca, M. (2020). Online teaching and learning in higher education during the coronavirus pandemic: students’ perspective. Sustainability 2020, 12, 10367; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410367 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410367

Davis, C., Grooms, J., Ortega, A., Alfredo, J., Rubalcada, A., & Vargas, E. (2020). Distance learning and parental mental health during covid-19. Educational Researcher, 50. Nov. 1., https://www.doi.org/10.3102/0013189X20978806 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X20978806

Dayagbil, F., Palompon, D., Garcia, L., & Olvido, M. (2021). Teaching and learning continuity amid and beyon the pandemic. Front. Educ., 6, https://www.doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2021.678692 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2021.678692

Deshpande, D. & Mhatre, C. (2021). A study of impact of online education on mental health and academic performance of children of project affected people studying at undergraduate level in navi mumbai. Geintec, Vol. 11., No. 4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47059/revistageintec.v11i4.2412

Good, H. (2023, May 14). What is causal research design? Dovetail. https://dovetail.com/research/causal-research

Gu Z, Li P, Zhang A, Xu X and Gu F (2022) The role of mental health and sustainable learning behavior of students in education sector influences sustainable environment. Font. Psychol. 13:822751. https://www/doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.822751. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.822751

Hassan, S., Algahtani, F., Atteya, M., Almishaal, A., Almed, A., Obeidat, S., Kamel, R., & Mohamed, R. (2021). The impact of extended e-learning on emotional wellbeing of students during the covid-19 pandemic in saudi arabia. Children, 9(13), https://www.doi.org/10.3390/children9010013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/children9010013

Hossain, M. (2021). Unequal experience of COVID-induced remote schooling in four developing countries. International Journal of Educational Development, 85, 102446, https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2021.102446 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2021.102446

Huang, M. (2021). A case study of esl students’ remote speaking class learning experiences in a Canada university during the covid-19 pandemic. Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, 5., https://www.doi.org/10.32996/jeltal.2021.3.5.4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32996/jeltal.2021.3.5.4

Huck, C. & Zhang, J. (2021). Effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on k-12 education: a systematic literature review. Educational Research and Development Journal, 24(1), 53-84

Idris, F., Zulkipli, I., Abdul-Mumin, K., Ahmad, S., Mitha, S., Rhaman, H., Rajabalaya, R., David, S., & Naing, L. (2021). Academic experiences, physical and mental impact of covid-19 pandemic on students and lecturers in health care education. BMC Medical Education, 21, 542. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02968-2

Jin, Y. (2022). The promoting effect of mental health education on students’ social adaptability: implications for environmental. Journal of Environmental and Public Health. 2022. https://www.doi.org/10.1155/2022/1607456 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/1607456

Kuan, F. & Lee, S, (2022). Effects of self-efficacy and learning environment on Hongkong undergraduate students’ academic performance. Public Administration and Policy. 2, pp 250-263. https://www.doi.org/10.1108/PAP-08-2022-0100 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/PAP-08-2022-0100

Kumar, A., Sarkar, M., Daivs, E., Morphet, J., Maloney, S., Ilic, D., & Palermo, C. (2021). Impact of the covid-19 pandemic on teaching and learning in health professional education: a mixed methods study protocol. BMC Medical Education, 21, 439. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02871-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02871-w

Hassan, M. (2022 September 24). Convenience Sampling – Method, Types and Examples. ResearchMethod.Net.

Lemana, J. (2022). The physical and mental health of learners doing online learning during the pandemic. Psych Educ, 1(3), https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.19686603.v2

Li, J., Qin, C., & Zhu, Y. (2021). Online teaching in universities during the covid-19 epidemic: a study of the situation, effectiveness, and countermeasures. Procedia Computer Science, 187, 566-573. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2021.04.100

Lisher, S., Safi, N., & Dickson, C. (2021). Remote leanring and students’ mental health during the covid-19 pandemic: a mized-method enquiry. Prospects, 51, 589-599. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11125-020-09530-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11125-020-09530-w

Limpus, W. & Carlyon, T. (2019) Considering how tertiary education providers can best support the mental health and wellbeing of their students. Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association, 27(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.30688/janzssa.2019.08

Locion, J., Sison, J., Suarez, S., De Jesus, M., Pelande, J., & Uy, M. (2022). The academic experience of senior high school students in the midst of pandemic. East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 1(6). DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v1i6.684

Mesghina, A., et. al. (2021). Distressed to distracted: examining undergraduate learning and stress regulation during the covid-19 pandemic. AERA OPEN, 7(1). https://www.doi.org/10.1177/23328584211065721 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/23328584211065721

Morin, A. (2022). Promting positive social classroom environments to enhance students’ mental health? Effective of a school-based programme in norway. International Journal of Educational Research, 113, 101966.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2022.101966 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2022.101966

Mousavi, A., Mohammadi, A., Mojtahedzadeh, R., Shirazi, M. & Rsahidi, H. (2020). E-learning educational atmosphere measure: a new instrument for assessing e-students’ perception of educational environment. Research in Learning Technology, 28, http://dx.doi.org/10.25304/rlt.v28.2308 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25304/rlt.v28.2308

Muthuprasad, T., Aiswarya, S., Aditya, K., & Jha, G. (2020). Students’ perception and preference for online education in India during covid-19 pandemic. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 3, 100101. https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2020.100101 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2020.100101

Noori, A. (2021) The impact of covid-19 pandemic on students’ learning in higher education in Afghanistan. Heliyon, 7(10). https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08113 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08113

Nuryana, Z., Xu, W., Kurniawan, L., Sutanti, N., Makruf, S., Nurcahyati, I. (2023). Student stress and mental health during online learning: potential for post-covid-19 school curriculum development. Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology, 14, https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100184. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100184

Pandya, A. & Lodha, P. (2022). Mental health consequences of covid-19 pandemic among college students and coping approaches adapted by higher education institutions: a scoping review. SSM-Mental Health, 2, 100122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100122 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100122

Picciano, A. G. (2017). Theories and frameworks for online education: Seeking an integrated model. Online Learning, 21(3), 166-190, https://www.doi.org/10.24059/olj.v21i3.1225 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v21i3.1225

Popescu, E., Tatuco, M., & Dobromirescu, V. (2021). Students’ well-being in online education in covid-19 context. International Journal of Education and Research. Vol. 9 No. 2.

Rashid, A., Shukor, N., Tasir, Z., & Na, K. (2021). Teacher’s perceptions and readiness toward the implementation of virtual learning environment. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 10(1), https://www.doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v10i1.21014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v10i1.21014

Selvaraj, A., Vishnu, R., Ka, N., Benson, N., & Mathew, A. (2021). Effect of pandemic based online education on teaching and learning system. International Journal of Educational Development, 85, 102444. https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2021.102444 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2021.102444

Sifat, R., Ruponty, M., Shuvo, K., chowdhuty, M., Suha, S. (2022). Impact of covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of school-going adolescents: insights from dhaka city, bangladesh. Heliyon 30, e09223. https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09223 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09223

Sipeki, I., Vissi. T., & Turi, I. (2022) The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of students and teaching staff. Heliyon, 8, https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09185 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09185

Son, C., Hegde, S., Smith, A., Wang, X., & Sasangohar, F. (2020). Effects of COVID-19 on College students’ Mental Health in the Univeted States: iNterview Survey Study. JMed Internet Res, 22(9). https://www.doi.org/10.2196/21279. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/21279

Tangona, M., Alvia, H., Mercado, R., & Elmar, T. (2023). The effects of virtual learning on the mental health and academic performance of the tourism students of Wesleyan university – Philippines. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Analysis, 6(1), https://www.doi.org/10.47191/ijmra/v6-i1-40

Thareja, S., Sharma, A., & Lal Chhokar, R. (2015). An e-learning environment. International Journal of emerging Technologies in Computational and Applied Sciences, 15-369.

Walters, T., Simkiss, N., Snowden, R., & Gray, N. (2022). Secondary school students’ perception of the online teaching experience during covid-19: the impact on mental wellbeing and specific learning difficulties. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 92, 843-860. https://www.doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12475 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12475

Willies, D. (2023). The impact of covid-19 pandemic on the education system in developing countries. African Journal of Education and Practice, 9(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.47604/ajep.1882

Van, N., Irum, S., Abbas, A., Sikandar, H., & Khan, N. (2021). Online learning – two side arguments related to mental health. International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering, 16(17), https://ww.doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v18i09.32317

Visser, M. & Law-van Wyk, E. (2021). University students’ mental health and emotional wellbeing during the covid-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdown. South African Journal of Psychology, 51(2) 229-243. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00812463211012219

Yaghi, A. (2022) Impact of online education on anxiety and stress among undergraduate public affairs students: a longitudinal study during the COVID-19 pandemic. J. Publ. Aff. Educ., https://www.doi.org/10.1080/15236803.2021.1954469 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15236803.2021.1954469

Zheng, M., Bender, D., & Lyon, C. (2021). Online learning during covid-19 produced equivalent or better student course performance as compared with pre-pandemic: empirical evidence from a school-wide comparative study. BMC Medical Education, 21(495). https://www.doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02909-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02909-z

Zhai, Y., & Du, X. (2020). Mental health care for international chinese students affected by the covid-19 outbreak, Lancet Psychiatr. 7(4), e22, https://www.//doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30089-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30089-4