Mental Health of Computer Science Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic Social Isolation

Abstract

The global COVID-19 pandemic has had impact not just on physical health, but also on mental health, particularly among undergraduate students. Previous studies have demonstrated that Computer Science students in particular already exhibit more symptoms of anxiety and depression than the general population and students in other fields. The study aimed to measure the impact of COVID-19 on Computer Science students' mental health, by assessing the prevalence and associated factors of anxiety and depression symptoms, and the factors that most affected their well-being. An online cross-sectional survey focused on concerns and impacts of COVID-19 was designed. The Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories were used to measure the anxiety and depression symptoms. The data were anonymously collected, and analyzed using the TIBCO Statistica™ software, by non-parametric tests. 174 students (135 males; age=21.07±2.47 years) participated in the study. The prevalence of symptoms was 36.7% for anxiety and 60.3% for depression. 81% of students reported that their well-being had been negatively affected by the pandemic, with the most reported concerns including social isolation and delay in academic progress. Correlations between anxiety and depression symptoms, strong social relationships, regular practice of physical exercise, and students' level of satisfaction with their academic program were found. This paper sheds light on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CS students' mental health, suggests ways in which Computer Science students may be able to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improve their mental health during and after the pandemic.