Detection of psychological needs in university students due to confinement during the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The confinement due to COVID-19 pandemic and the change in the educational modality and has led university students to experience several psychological alterations that require their timely assessment and diagnose. Therefore, the objective of this research was to identify psychological needs during confinement due to the third wave of COVID-19 in university students, to lay the foundations for the future design of a specific intervention in this population and contribute to their comprehensive health. This investigation is part of a larger study. With a non-experimental, cross-sectional design and a non-probabilistic quota sampling, five male and female university students participated. Data collection was done individually through synchronous semi-structured interview script through a digital platform. Participation was informed and consented in accordance with the Psychologist's Code of Ethics. It was found that male and female university students experience academic stress, negative feelings, decrease in their social relationships, family problems, inability to organize and insomnia, for which the physical, psychological and social health of this population is at stake, being necessary designed intervention programs from health psychology that consider breathing and relaxation techniques as well as problem solving to address academic stress, anxiety symptoms and associated variables