Isolation, Screentime, and School Works on Science, Technology,

Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Students’ Mental Health during the

Pandemic: A Quantitative Analysis

Jiro Angelo Benito1, Kent Arcel Anthony Caballero2, Markjacer Camiling3, Kobe Corona4, Arc
Angel Delima5, Angelo Gray Guzman6, Lee Von Zion Mariño7, Norria George Ragudos8, Janfrey
Francis Rañeses9, Iain Russelle Salvador10, Aaron Patrick Sanchez11, Jesstyne Althea San Pedro12,
and Aldrin James Sarmiento13
1
Affiliation (8 pt. Times New Roman), 2 Affiliation (8 pt. Times New Roman),
*Corresponding Author: email address@national-u.edu.ph

STEM - 2008, Grade 12, Practical Research 2

Date Submitted

Abstract
A brief summary of approximately 250 – 300 words outlining the background, objectives of the study, the
methodology used, key results and conclusions. Manuscripts must be submitted as Word files using the prescribed
format. Use Times New Roman, 10 pt., justified. Save the manuscript as MS word document. Use single spacing.

Keywords: up to five key words/terms; separated by semicolons (Times New Roman, 10 pt.)

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Nowadays, mental health has been brought up many times by people either men

or women, old or young, black or white, etc. No matter the ethnicity or race, people get

affected by issues concerning mental health. And since the emergence of Gen Z’s using

social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc., mental health awareness

has blown up. This is because people are starting to realize what really is happening with

them. This in turn helped the world see or become aware of signs that someone has
mental health problems. Depression, anxiety, and stress are the most common types of

such problems.

Moreover, the occurrence of these issues also causes problems on the entire body

and the functionality of an individual. The researchers have been seeing students from

their class taking several absences every week, not participating in class, and being

introverted to them. According to the Mental Health Foundation (2022), low motivation

and difficulty with concentration are some things that are affected whenever mental

health problems arise. This could possibly explain why students drop – out of school or

is not attending school. Also, these problems are very common within teenagers (Eiland

and Romeo, 2012). This puts stress on youngsters during their development period which

could affect their lives and their study as well. As stated by Dahl (2004), different

disorders such as anxiety and depression increase during adolescent period. This further

shows that students are susceptible to these kinds of problems.

Furthermore, recent studies show that students are making way to balance their

social life and academic responsibilities which then become stressors due to lack of time

while doing lots of work (ASO Staff Writers, 2022). This may result in several

complexities in the brain that makes students unmotivated to study. This further enhances

problems experienced by them since a lot of work could mean that students are

potentially sleeping less due to their schedule. There have been visible signs that students

sleep less to finish assignments and tasks. Even parents nowadays claim to be having

difficulties during their college days since there was too much work needed to be done in

a small amount of time. This was supported and confirmed by ASO Staff Writers (2022)
and stated that people are cutting off their time for sleep to make up for the work that is

needed to be accomplished.

On top of that, since the beginning of the pandemic on the year 2020, online class

have been introduced as the new learning system. This has been implemented as an

emergency learning system to continue school amidst the pandemic. Having this new

learning system means an adjusting period is needed for both students and teachers. This

has caused disruptions on both students and teachers specially because of online and

modular activities conducted on class (Ignacio, 2021). This response enabled schools to

conduct a whole school year online.

Although a response was provided to fill the gap of skipping an academic year,

problems arose due to new and unfamiliar learning modes (Joaquin, Biana, and Dacela,

2020). Students were forced to study in this setup to avoid wasting a year. Which then,

according to Pope (2022), resulted in stress and less engagements on classes since online

class was implemented. In conclusion, mental health problems begin to arise at the start

of the school year during pandemic.

In addition, senior high school students experience several problems during online

class specially at the start of the pandemic. The most common catalyst upon the start of

online learning was that students were using their gadgets too often since this is essential

in the new mode of learning. Studies have shown relation between mental health

problems and too much screentime. There were reported incidents of mental health

problems such as depression and suicidality, which was found out to be linked to having

too much screentime (Twenge, Joiner, Rogers, and Martin, 2018). This is potentially a

major problem since gadgets were the mainstream media for online class.
 Also, gadgets were suspected to be taking a toll on students’ sleeping schedule. As

claimed by M.D. Mosley (2020), interferences in the brain are caused by lights produced

by electronic devices such as gadgets which may result in sleep deprivation. This further

confirms that students’ mental health problems may be caused by lack of sleep and

exposure to gadgets for long periods of time.

Additionally, pandemic has resulted in quarantine. People were forced to stay at

home and students study in their houses. Students were not used to having this setup

since face-to-face classes allow them to socialize with their classmates and teachers. This

situation could result in several problems relating to the mental status of an individual.

Early signs of depression or other mental health problems like less engagements during

class, incomplete assignments, lack of motivation and energy may be caused by isolation

(Curtis, 2020). This could possibly explain why the pandemic caused problems as such,

because it is humans’ nature to have physical interactions with one another (Hämmig,

2019). To conclude, isolation, too much screen time, and too much school work could

possibly lead to mental health problems of an individual. All these combined could

restrict learning intakes of students (Curtis, 2020).

On the other hand, with all these issues surrounding mental health, schools have

been actively giving students solutions such as seminars, guidance, etc. But since mental

health issues differ from one person to another, assessing students one-by-one needs to be

done to properly give accurate solutions to their problems (M.A.Ed. Barile, 2020). And

with this on-hand, as stated by Brian (2020), intentionally communicating with students

could help identify signs of problems within them. This will essentially open the way to

further understand whichever the primary problem is to address students properly.

 In addition, a safe environment in school in terms of learning and ones’ wellbeing

could positively enhance student – teacher relationship and communication, and further

address the issue regarding mental health (True Education Partnership, 2020). This will

also allow more people to gain awareness on signs and thinks to look out for that could

possibly be early symptoms of problems linked to the mentality of an individual. This

will help teachers, friends, and parents of an individual suffering this kind of issue (Brian,

2021).

With all the information presented, the researchers decided to conduct a study

about the relation of isolation, screentime, and school works on students’ mental health.

This study will tackle the different catalysts experienced by students that leads to mental

health problems. This is to allow schools, government agencies, parents, and students as

well to gain awareness about early signs of mental illness of an individual, in the hopes of

changing school systems that will make school a healthy and less-stressful environment

for both teachers and students.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

This study aims to find the relationship between isolation, screentime, and school

works on STEM students’ mental health during the pandemic. Specifically, this focuses

on answering the following:

1. What is the level of influence of the above stated factors on STEM Students’

Mental Health?

2. Which of the above factor contributes most to the development of mental

health problems among STEM students?

 3. What percentage of STEM students are having mental health issues affected

by:

a. Isolation only

b. Screentime only

c. School works only

1.3 Significance of the Study

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of school works on the mental

health of STEM students during the pandemic. This study will benefit the following: This

study will be beneficial for the Department of Education (DepEd), since most members

of the department are not aware of the possible effects of too much school works on

mental health of students. This can help them to be prepared for different circumstances

needed to be avoided for healthy minds of students since this will give them knowledge

about the situation. Furthermore, this study will be beneficial to schools which can allow

them to take a step in mental health awareness talks, student assessment test, etc. to

determine if students need help. This will allow them to further make school a less

stressful environment for students.

Additionally, this study will help parents to gain awareness about mental health

issues and will know what their child may talk about. This will also inform all the parents

to be mindful on the behavior their child shows. Lastly, this study will help STEM

students to identify the problems they might encounter. Majority does not know how or

what they feel, so this study would be beneficial for them since it will enlighten them on

the different circumstances they might experience.

1.4 Scope and Delimitation

 This study will focus on finding the relation of school works on students’ mental

health during the pandemic to spread awareness about this issue and enhance schools’

system on giving tasks. The primary subjects of this study consist of senior high school

students currently enrolled on STEM strand. Also, data will be collected from current

STEM students by providing a survey link for every participant. This will be done in a 3-

month period of time in hope to raise awareness on mental health experiences of students

and determine their relation to school works being given to them.