E-learning: Depression, anxiety, and stress symptomatology among Lebanese university students during COVID-19 quarantine

Nurs Forum. 2021 Jan;56(1):52-57. doi: 10.1111/nuf.12521. Epub 2020 Oct 30.

Abstract

Background: E-learning has been adopted internationally as the alternative teaching or learning strategy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) quarantine to fill the academic gap that has been created by the existing reality of the pandemic due to nationwide closures.

Aim: This study aims at evaluating the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptomatology among Lebanese University Students during the COVID-19 Quarantine.

Methodology: A quantitative cross sectional research design, where 520 undergraduate university students were surveyed regarding their satisfaction with e-learning and the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptomatology using depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21 elements.

Results: Learning through online platforms have given rise to depression and anxiety disorders among undergraduate university students, where there was a significant correlation between student satisfaction and prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Conclusion: The sudden shift to exclusive e-learning methods of instruction have produced anxiety and depression symptoms among a significant portion of the students due to the stressful load of work required.

Keywords: COVID-19; anxiety; depression; e-learning; stress.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anxiety / epidemiology*
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / prevention & control*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depression / epidemiology*
  • Education, Distance*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lebanon / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Quarantine / psychology*
  • Stress, Psychological / epidemiology*
  • Students / psychology*
  • Students / statistics & numerical data
  • Universities
  • Young Adult