The COVID-19 pandemic changed the social and school world for teens as virtual learning or hybrid learning became the norm in 2020-21. The unprecedented shutdown of classroom learning caused undue stress, low levels of social inclusion and low satisfaction with school for many — and mental health issues for some, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, Davis.
Problems were especially pronounced for those youth identifying as transgender and gender nonconforming, or TGNC, and youth who attended school online during the pandemic, the researchers found.
“It is clear from this study that certain individuals ended the 2020-21 school year facing more adversity than others,” said Drew Cingel, lead author and associate professor of communication at UC Davis. The study was published last month in the journal PLOS ONE.
The study found that teens who were able to attend school in-person reported more sense of inclusion in their social group than those learning online. And despite the traditionally high use in this age group, social media failed to compensate for real, in-person social connections derived from school, researchers suggest.
Data was collected from 1,256 United States adolescents, ages 14 to 16, to examine how their school context related to feelings of school satisfaction and success, social connection, mental health and media use. The findings suggest that current school interventions may be necessary to help teens recover from the disparities experienced during this unique time, researchers said.
Particularly susceptible to health and academic disparities were TGNC adolescents and adolescents in virtual learning only. Both reported a more significant drop in academic success and less satisfaction with school in 2020-21 compared to the previous school year.
Youth participating in virtual learning also reported feeling less social connection and higher rates of mental health problems, in comparison to their peers who could attend school in-person or in a hybrid model.
Social media
And while the use of social media by teens was reported as more pronounced than before the pandemic, the increased socialization online was perceived both positively and as problematic at the same time.
“Importantly, while adolescent youth are adept and frequent media users, and report using media for social purposes, in this instance in which so much of their in-person social connection was lost, social media and gaming do not appear able to provide a protective mechanism enough to compensate for that loss,” researchers said in the study.
“In fact, problematic media use (both social media and video gaming) was highest by those in virtual learning contexts. It is critical that we recognize that all youth are not returning to school with the same consequences of the pandemic, and that resources need to be in place to specifically support TGNC youth and those who were studying virtually at the end of last year, particularly around social connection and mental health,” Cingel said.
Co-authors included Alexis R. Lauricella, Erickson Institute, Chicago; Sarah M. Coyne, School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah; Ellen Wartella, Department of Communications Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois; and Lauren B. Taylor and Hannah R. Stevens, UC Davis.
FAQs
Youth participating in virtual learning also reported feeling less social connection and higher rates of mental health problems, in comparison to their peers who could attend school in-person or in a hybrid model.
How online learning affects students mental health? ›
According to a study by Yaghi, students who experienced higher levels of stress during online learning reported poorer mental health outcomes, including increased anxiety, depression, and overall psychological distress [34].
What are the negative effects of online learning during COVID? ›
Distance or online learning is the method which helps to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but it has a negative impact on the mental health of higher education students. The main problems experienced by students include anxiety, mild and severe stress, social media fatigue, and depression.
How has COVID affected mental health in schools? ›
Young people's mental health deteriorated during COVID-19, with higher levels of depression and social, emotional and behavioral difficulties than before the pandemic hit, a comprehensive new study has shown.
How COVID-19 affects high school students mentally? ›
Data from the 2021 Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES) indicate that 37.1% of U.S. high school students reported poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 19.9% considering and 9.0% attempting suicide in the preceding year (1).
How does online learning affect students performance? ›
Moreover, recent research indicates that students feel stressed because of online learning and prefer face-to-face learning (Patricia, 2020; Fawaz and Samaha, 2021). Hence, the academic performance of students has been affected negatively, leading to a decline in their grades.
How has COVID affected student behavior? ›
For example, a survey of 3,300 youth aged 13–19 early in the pandemic (Margolius et al., 2020) revealed increased levels of concern about their present and future, more time spent feeling unhappy or depressed, lack of social connection, and a desire for greater social and emotional support from their teachers and ...
How did the Covid 19 pandemic affect learning? ›
Math, reading, and history scores from the past three years show that students experienced a significant decline in learning during the pandemic. The team's calculations indicate that by the spring of 2022, the average student was lagging by approximately one-half year in math and one-third of a year in reading.
Did COVID increase online learning? ›
In 2019, the number of students taking at least one distance learning class was reported to be 34.7percent (DAAD, 2020), however, once COVID hit and nearly 1.2 billion students were out of the classroom, there was a universal rise in online learning.
How did remote learning affect high school students? ›
Academic, motivational, and socio-emotional factors contributed to lower performance. Educators, parents, and students reported disorganization, increased academic demands, and motivational and behavioral changes. Teachers and policymakers should consider these results in developing future education strategies.
On average, students will need the equivalent of 4.1 additional months of instruction in reading and 4.5 months in math to meet pre-pandemic levels of achievement, the report estimates. Analyses of student test scores have repeatedly shown severe declines in academic achievement.
How did COVID-19 affect youth mental health? ›
Perhaps the most striking finding of the newest study is that the elevated depressive symptoms and worsened mental health that were observed among adolescent girls and boys during the pandemic were maintained for up to two years into the pandemic.
How has COVID affected mental health? ›
Worldwide surveys done in 2020 and 2021 found higher than typical levels of stress, insomnia, anxiety and depression. By 2022, levels had lowered but were still higher than before 2020. Though feelings of distress about COVID-19 may come and go, they are still an issue for many people.
Did COVID-19 increase mental health? ›
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety and depression prevalence increased by 25% globally [13].
What are the mental health consequences of COVID-19 on medical students worldwide? ›
Medical students who completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 Items (DASS21) before and during COVID-19 revealed a significant increase in both prevalence and levels of anxiety and stress during this period (P < 0.001); however, levels of depression did not change [12].
Are online classes better for mental health? ›
In a virtual setting, these students tend to feel less pressure to interact with peers or fit into the social norms of a brick-and-mortar classroom. Having a more comfortable learning environment online can help shed social anxieties and lead to positive mental wellness outcomes.
How does online learning affect the brain? ›
Sweller's cognitive load theory suggests that when we overload our memory, we are unable to acquire and process new information. eLearning can increase the load on our memory because we are exposed to multiple media at the same time and have to switch between platforms or learning materials.
What are the negative impact of e learning on students? ›
E-Learning lacks face-to-face communication
A lack of face-to-face communication with the instructor inhibits student feedback, causes social isolation, and could cause students to feel a lack of pressure. A lack of pressure is a disadvantage because it causes students to abandon their studies more easily.
What are the negative effects of distance learning? ›
Distance education led to a decrease in students' physical activity, communication with peers, and a lack of personal space at home. Students tended to spend longer hours at their computers both during their lessons and free time, which could have led to sleep disorders and other mental health problems.
