COLLEGE STUDENT’S STRESS AND ANXIETY AMIDST COVID-19 PANDEMIC

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY

CHARLENE J. ROQUERO

November 2020
 INTRODUCTION

The flare-up of coronavirus diseases COVID19 has

been significantly impacting the life and living of individuals all over the world. On

December 2019, within the city of Wuhan, China, bizarre cases of patients with

pneumonia caused by the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) were detailed, and the spread

of the infection quickly got to be a global health threat, there’s so many lives lost

because of the outburst level of the virus. In March 2020 the DOH and the Philippine

government declared the strictly home quarantine under lockdown all over the

Philippines, everything had needed to stop and that includes the work, education, health

care, the economy, and relationships. However the COVID19 pandemic has had a

significant impact on public mental health wellbeing and that includes the Academic

study of students around the world. Many had experienced stress and anxiety that

threatens the mental health of students this pandemic. Psychological health is an

imperative part of overall health and wellbeing. It affects how we reflect, feel, and act. It

may also affect how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices during an

emergency.

Stress is a normal reaction to everyday pressures, but can become unhealthy

when it upsets your day-to-day functioning. (APA 2020). It is generally refers to two

things: the psychological perception of pressure, on the one hand, and the body's

response to it, on the other, which involves multiple systems, from metabolism to

muscles to memory. Some stress is necessary for all living systems; it is the means by
which they encounter and respond to the challenges and uncertainties of existence.

(Psychology Today 2020). Stress is a common part of life. Everybody encounters stress

at some point or another. One specific time that numerous individuals experience stress

is all through their college encounter. It is something that plumps their future, where

they will meet lifelong companion, meet probable spouses and make memories will final

until the end of time. College is additionally a time when students can get a pile of

responsibilities, battling to get grades and other stressors of components that will prove

difficulty for students who determine themselves engaged within the modern and

exciting situation. Another psychological issue this pandemic, most especially on

students is anxiety, many of individuals are now anxious, worried about their health,

academics, financial situation and loss of support.

However, Anxiety is the apprehensive anticipation of future danger or misfortune

accompanied by a feeling of worry, distress, and or somatic symptoms of tension.

(American Psychiatric Association [APA] 2013, p. 818). Today’s situation in this middle

of COVID19 Pandemic, college students are prone to feelings of loneliness, and they

experience higher rates of anxiety and depression compared to the common population.

Amid this period of social isolation, instability and abrupt transitions, they are inclined to

advance the worsening of these feelings. Expulsion from their social support system

and extracurricular activities at their school can cause students to feel less associated

with their companions, organizations and leisure activities. In expansion they are facing

uncertainty almost their future, their own wellbeing and the heath of their companions

and loved ones. The circumstance they are living through is stressful and anxiety-
provoking, as there’s a steady fear of the obscure in addition to a loss of control, making

them especially to developing mental wellbeing concerns.

This study focuses on students, mainly college students who are said to

experience stress and anxiety amidst this COVID-19 Pandemic. It aims to inform and

know the effect of COVID19 Pandemic on their psychological health most especially to

their academic and social situation. Moreover, to further discuss and see the

significance of this matter, related studies and literature might be a great help.
 METHOD

 This study is qualitative in nature. In the handbook of qualitative research by

Denzin and Lincoln (2005), they explained that a qualitative research involves an

approach to the world in an interpretative naturalistic way. Qualitative researches study

things in their natural setting, trying to understand a phenomena base on people's

perception of its meaning. The researchers asked questions and listened to the

respondents in order to find out new thoughts and information in generating a

conclusion. The qualitative research is suitable to the study because it aims to know

the real situation of senior high school students experiencing stress. It is the most

appropriate for this study for a qualitative research is a type of research that gets

people’s point of views or perceptions to a certain matter. Qualitative research

also portrays a person’s feelings towards a topic.

The approach in this study is grounded theory. Grounded theory is a qualitative

research approach that was originally developed by Glaser and Strauss in the

1960s.According to Charmaz (2017), grounded theory refers to a set of systematic

inductive methods for conducting qualitative research aimed toward theory

development. Grounded theory investigates the actualities in the real world and

analyses the data with no preconceived ideas or hypothesis (Glaser & Strauss, 1967).

In other words, grounded theory suggests that theory emerges inductively from the data

(Chesebro&Borisoff, 2007). This design is suitable in this study since it focuses on the

specific opinions of the participants.

 The participants in this study are three college students from University of

Southern Mindanao College, Kabacan Campus and the other one is from North Valley

College Foundation Inc. Kidapawan City. The participants in this study are selected via

purposive sampling method. Judgmental or expert sample are the other terms for

purposive sampling method. It is a kind of nonprobability sample that aims to produce a

sample that can be logically assumed to be the representative of the population. It is a

sampling method where in the participants are selected by setting criteria. Purposive

sampling method is the most accurate method to be used in this study because it sets

criteria for the participants. The criteria will lead the researcher to get the participants

needed for the study. In the criteria, the participants should be an enrolled college

student that undergoes modular learning and online class learning presently.

For the instrument, the researcher will use an in-depth Interview via Facebook

Messenger Video Call. The researcher developed a guide questionnaire for the

participants which all are based on the research objectives. Furthermore, there were

two parts: first was the socio- demographic profile of the participants in terms of age,

gender, and status, and second contains the guide questionnaires, and also the

researcher will use a voice record for clear and exact information.

The data collection procedures started by sending of permission letter to the

participants. After assuring the acceptance of the letter of permission from the

participants, an interview consent form will be fill in to the participants, where it contains

the socio- demographic profile of the participants and the terms of the researcher to the

participants that she/he is willing to spent it’s time for the study .
 On ethical considerations, the study assured that the respondents

voluntarily participated in the study. The protection of the privacy of the participants

has to be ensured. Any type of communication in relation to the research should be

done with honesty and transparency. Any type of misleading information, as well as

misrepresentation of primary data findings in a biased way must be avoided. Privacy

and anonymity of the respondents is of a paramount importance. Respect for the dignity

of research participants should be prioritized.

Data gathered was analyzed through coding, categorizing and thematic analysis.

Gordon-Finlayson (2010) emphasizes that “coding is simply a structure on which

reflection happens”.  Coding is done through assigning uppercase letters that

represents a specific group of participants while lowercase letters representing each

participant and numbers that corresponds for the statement of a participants. Key points

are taken from each statement to generate a code. It is important to easily determine

the differences of the participants as well as to easily spot the similarities of the

answers. Categorizing is the process of grouping the statements with same code. It is

important to serve a basis for presenting the findings and results of the study. To make

sense of seemingly unrelated material thematic analysis can be used. It is used to

analyze qualitative information and to systematically gain knowledge and empathy

about a person, an interaction, a group, a situation, an organization or a culture .Braun

and Clarke (2006) state that thematic analysis is a foundational method of analysis that

needed to be defined and described to solidify its place in qualitative research. It is done

by getting the theme from the statements that are categorized by the researchers. It is

important to explain the statement as well as to draw conclusion

 FINDINGS

This section of the research shows you the results that the study found in relation

to both research questions and existing knowledge following the sequence of the resear

ch objectives: (1) determine the situation of their academic study during this period of

COVID19 pandemic. (2) determine the psychological experiences in their academic life

during this COVID19 pandemic. (3) determine the difficulties this semester of their

academic life that they are most concerned about. (4) describe the relationships with

the university/college colleagues and professors during this COVID19 pandemic. (5)

describe the academic performance this first semester and if they are confident enough

that they can cope up all the things they had to do. The gathered data are presented in

this section according to the sequence of the questions asked.

Table I. Responses of participants on the situation of their academic studying during

this period of COVID19 pandemic.

Interview Extract Codes Theme

(CSP-1)

 Kapoy, pero okay  Exhausting  Exhausting

lang. Makaya rag

adjust.

(CSP-2)

 Mahirap, Budlay siya  Difficultly  Difficult

kay damo sang  Lot of adjustments

adjustment like sa  Overload school

 signal nimo . Wala requirements.

signal tapos ang  Poor Signal

requirements damo  Self- study

kaayo tapos

sometimes hindi mo

maintindihan, budlay

siya kay self study

ka .

(CSUSMP-3)

Table II. Responses of participants on the psychological experiences in their academic

life during this COVID19 pandemic.

Interview Exact Codes Theme

(CSNVCFIP-1)

 Stress sa online.  Stressful  Stressful

Stress masyado

wala ka kabalo

unsaon pag adjust.

(CSUSMP-2)

 Oo eh! Kang stress,  Stressful  Stressful and

 kay syempre ga  Nervous about what Anxious about

apas ka sang might happen. academic

deadline tapos ano  Doubtful performance.

himuon mo. Ti hindi  Anxious toward

mo bal an ano grades.

himuon mo, hindi

mob al an kung diin

ka mag start o

hirimuon . Stress ka

anah. Hadlok pud ,

nerbyos pud kay

hindi mob al an kung

mapasa mob a ning

ano , lalo na sa

exam , nerbyos ka

kay basi gina isip mo

nga basi mabagsak

ka .

(CSUSMP-3)

Table III. . Responses of the participants on their difficulties this semester of their

academic life that they are most concerned about .

 Interview Exact Codes Theme

(CSNVCFIP-1)

 Akung pagka  Failure to subjects  Struggling

bagsak, lisod kaayo during online class.

mabagsak kanang  Difficulty in

during online kay negotiating

wala ka kabalo asa professors.

ka na ano, asa dapit

ang kailangan nimo

bawiun kay lisod

mag approach sa

mga professors.

(CSUSMP-2)

 Grades. Tapos ano  Grades  Struggling

ang signal gid grabi ! Consciousness

Wala . wala gid ang  Poor connection

signal ti hindi mo  Difficulty in passing

maintindihan kung school requirements.

mapasa mo ba ni

kay hina-hina ang

connection tapos

gina worry mo pud

ang grades kay hindi

 ka dayun maka pas

aka requirement kay

tunggod sa signal

sometimes manubo

ang score mo.

(CSUSMP-3)

Table VI . Responses of participants about their relationships with their university

colleagues and professors this period of COVID19 pandemic.

Interview Exact Codes Theme

(CSNVCFIP-1)

 Sa colleagues kay  Good connection  Good connection

okay lang kay naa with colleagues. with colleagues and

gihapon mi sa  Poor communication poor connections

facebook or sa chat and relationships with the professors.

naga communicate with the professor.

gyappon mi. Sa mga

professors kay

medyo dili kaayo

okay ang

communication kay

lisod kay naa kay

 gusto ipangutana or

naa kay kailangan

maitubag,

(CSUSMP-2)

 Sa classmates kay  Good connections

murag okay. Okay with college  Good connection

man kay ga colleagues. with colleagues and

communicate like  Poor communication poor connections

mamangkot sa and relationships with the professors.

classmates sa with the professor.

questions kung hindi  Difficulty in

mo maintindihan understanding

tapos ay ano okay professor’s lesson.

lang man sa

classmates kay

syempre always

naga communicate

pero sa teacher is

murag complicated

kay sometimes

sobrahan busy ang

teacher hindi ma

follow and imung

 question kay

syempre sa

kadamuon sang gina

handle niya. Budlay

mag ano sa teachers

kay kanang ano

kanang sa once a

week lang sila naga

ano naga report ana

sometimes.

(CSUSMP-3)

Table V. Responses of participants about their academic performance this first

semester and if they are confident with their ability that they could cope up all the things

that they had to do.

Interview Exact Codes Theme

(CSNVCFIP-1)

 Hmmm. Duha-duha  Hesitant in abilities  Anxious

nag start ang ing ani  Difficulty in

na sitwasyon , online adjustments during

class kay murag nag this pandemic.

duha – duha nako

 sakung kakayahan  Anxious

kung makaya ba

nako , kay lisud dyud

siya mag adjust

karong pandemic

nya online class.

(CSUSMP-2)

 Katung subong kay  Confident in  Anxious

hindi ko confident midterms

kay katung exam abi  Hesitant this finals

sa midterm confident  Worried

ko sa answer ko .

Nakapasa man ko sa

tanan ko nga

activities,

requirements tapos

akun nga mga ano

reports ko this final

kay hindi ko sure kay

napasa ko man

tanan na

requirements, ang

exam gina hulat ko

 pa . Hindi ko

confident sang akun

na grades or

something ano na.

(CSUSMP-3)

 I am confident that I  Confident  Self-assured

pass all my  Lack in many terms

requirements on  Requirements are for

time. But if I'll compliance

evaluate my

performances I can

say that I am lacking

in many terms. I

admit that if there's

an activities or

assignments, wala

nako gaisip kung

okay na ba or kung

passable ba akuang

ginabuhat. Ginaisip

ko nalang "at least

nagpasa on time". I

forgot the essence of

work quality. That's

all, thank you.