Narratives of Crisis: Female Saudi Students and the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Abstract

This paper endeavors to portray the narratives of a group of female undergraduate students, in Saudi Arabia, studying during the Covid-19 pandemic. Data collection occurred in March 2021, at which time students had been in online classes for a year and had experienced several curfews as well as a total lockdown. Students answered open-ended questions and wrote a reflection about how they experienced the pandemic. The majority of the participants reported sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and social isolation, identifying their family as the most important source of support during this time. Others tried to cope using their own resources. The study highlighted the need for increased awareness among faculty, education leaders and policy-makers about the psychological effects of lockdown and social isolation. There is a requirement for more support services for those affected by anxiety, depression, and regular follow-up after the pandemic ends to explore the long-term consequences.