Cognitive, Emotional, Physical, and Behavioral Stress-Related Symptoms and Coping Strategies Among University Students During the Third Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic
September 2022
in “
Frontiers in psychiatry
”
TLDR University students in Egypt experienced high stress during COVID-19's third wave, with negative coping mechanisms being more common.
The study surveyed 1,467 undergraduate students from 30 universities in Egypt to assess stress-related symptoms and coping strategies during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. It found that stress was significantly higher among females, married students, those living on campus, with a 'B' GPA, and those with organic and psychological disorders. The most common physical symptoms included headaches, chronic fatigue, and hair loss, while anxiety, moodiness, and excessive sleeping were prevalent cognitive, emotional, and behavioral symptoms. A total of 63.9% of students felt the pandemic had negatively impacted their lives, and 97% experienced stress. The majority (68.5%) coped by isolating themselves, indicating a preference for negative coping mechanisms over positive ones like therapy or meditation.
