A Study on the Mental Health of the Post-Pandemic Generation of Engineering Students to Ensure the Resilience of the Study Process

Anna Vintere (Corresponding Author), Ilze Balode

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Young people who were distance learners during the Covid-19 pandemic, who were deprived of the opportunity to socialize and overused information and communication technologies, have currently enrolled in universities. In addition to the sources of stress experienced by all first-year students, such as moving away from home, learning to live independently, developing new social networks, adjusting to new ways of learning, academic concerns, finances, worries about future prospects etc., the Covid-19 pandemic created many additional stressors, e.g., excessive use of information and communication technologies, restrictions on physical activity, social isolation, loneliness, pressure to learn independently, giving up the daily routine, insufficient social support, etc. Therefore, the objectives of this study are the following: to rate the emotional well-being and feelings of the first-year engineering students, identify difficulties faced by the first-year engineering students that affect mental health and what measures are needed to reduce mental health problems. To achieve the research objectives, a literature review, a survey of the first-year engineering students and focused interviews of academic staff were conducted. The results of this research show that reducing the workload, providing assistance in studies and opportunities for physical activities and sport could significantly improve the emotional well-being of students. The academic support is the most important to reduce the mental health problems of students and ensure the resilience of the study process.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationTowards a Hybrid, Flexible and Socially Engaged Higher Education
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings of the 26th International Conference on Interactive Collaborative Learning (ICL 2023)
EditorsM.E. Auer, U.R. Cukierman, Eduardo Vendrell Vidal, Edmundo Tovar Caro
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages413-420
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-031-53022-7
ISBN (Print)978-3-031-53021-0
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024
Event26th International Conference on Interactive Collaborative Learning - Madrid, Spain
Duration: 26 Sept 202329 Sept 2023
Conference number: 26
https://blog.hwr-berlin.de/berliner-coil-verbund/2023/08/15/icl2023-international-conference-on-interactive-collaborative-learning/

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Networks and Systems
Volume901 LNNS
ISSN (Print)2367-3370
ISSN (Electronic)2367-3389

Conference

Conference26th International Conference on Interactive Collaborative Learning
Abbreviated title ICL 2023
Country/TerritorySpain
CityMadrid
Period26/09/2329/09/23
Internet address

Keywords*

  • Emotional well-being
  • mental health
  • pandemic

Field of Science*

  • 5.3 Educational sciences
  • 2.2 Electrical engineering, Electronic engineering, Information engineering
  • 2.11 Other engineering and technologies

Publication Type*

  • 3.1. Articles or chapters in proceedings/scientific books indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database

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