The Effect of COVID-19 on Tawjeihi Students’ Anxiety and Depression in Jordan: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant negative impact on the mental health of students. Students have reported feelings of boredom, relaxation, and complications during remote learning, as well as missing social interactions and experiencing fear, sadness, and anxiety when hearing news about COVID-19. Purpose: The objective of this study is to investigate the level of anxiety and depression among the students who practiced online learning through COVID-19. Methods: A quantitative study was used. The study used a convenience sampling method to collect data. The total number of the sample reached 390 students. The students were selected from the University of Jordan and Applied Science University in Amman. The other part of the sample was collected from the governmental and private schools in Amman governorate. The questionnaire was used as a tool for data collection. Results: The results showed a wide variation of the conditions inside households that left a deep impact on the students in Tawjihi. The previous conditions and the difficulties that the families faced to save the internet with high criteria left high pressure on Tawjihi students. The results showed that the complete lockdown due to COVID-19 caused different levels of depression and anxiety. The results showed that the students were depressed from online learning due to the difficulties that they faced in reaching the online sessions and the difficulty in managing the online platforms. Conclusion: Online learning left different levels of depression and anxiety among the Tawjihi students as a result of the low experience of online learning. Implications for Nursing: By addressing anxiety and depression among students, nursing science can contribute to the development of effective interventions and support systems that enhance students' mental well-being and overall educational experience. Keywords: Online learning, High-school students, Depression, Anxiety.