Evaluation of Prevalence of Fatigue among Jordanian University Students and its Relation to COVID-19 Quarantine

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) presented an opportunity to conduct an online survey to research the psychological fatigue as a mental health issue among the students of Jadara University, Jordan. AIM: This study aimed at assessing prevalence of fatigue in the student population of Jadara University (Irbid, Jordan) and its association with COVID-19 quarantine. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jadara University during a period of 2 months, extending from March to May, 2020. Two-hundred students (43.8% males and 56.2% females) participated in the study and filled forms of the fatigue assessment scale. RESULTS: Psychologically-tired students constituted 59.0% of the participants whereas the remainder participants were normal students. Moreover, statistically-significant differences in fatigue between students of the various academic years (p = 0.04) were found. The highest proportion of students suffering from fatigue was observed in the fourth-, and 5th-year students (21 out of 42 and 9 out of 18, respectively, [i.e., 50.0%, each]). The lowest proportion of students suffering from fatigue was that of the 1st-year students (29.0%). Significant differences in fatigue were also found between working and non-working students (p = 0.001), where all the non-working students (92; 100.0%) suffered from fatigue while most of the working students experienced no fatigue (82; 69.0% of the working students). CONCLUSION: The current study adds to the growing body of knowledge available to policymakers and mental health practitioners throughout the world about the links between individual mental health and the COVİD-19 quarantine.