PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS ON THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many lives and has a considerable social and economic impact. In response to this crisis, governments have implemented a series of protection measures: lockdown, social distancing, wearing a mask etc. Studies and statistics on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic indicate low levels of mental and physical well-being, depression, fear of uncertainty, increasing inequality due to job loss, increased stress due to financial matters, social isolation etc. The current study has two main objectives: to explore Psychology students’ perceptions on changes in their quality of life, by comparing two periods of time: before and during COVID-19 pandemic and to identify differences in students’ perceptions on changes in their quality of life, according to their COVID-19 disease status. We designed a questionnaire including different aspects of quality of life, based on WHO Quality of Life - Bref (WHOQOL- BREF) (2004). Results have indicated that the main changes are related to opportunities for leisure activities, ability to concentrate, ability to perform daily living activities, mobility, capacity for work, feeling safe, and having enough money.