Covid-Related Digital Study Stress in the Summer Semester 2021

Abstract

The conversion of classroom teaching to e-learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic is leading to increased stress among students worldwide. In spring 2021, 729 students from six German universities took part in the online study on the stress-related consequences of the COVID 19 pandemic. More than half of the participants exhibited significant chronic stress, almost a quarter were very stressed. Students with higher TICS scores also showed higher levels of stress in the digital study. Thus, students with higher TICS scores also showed increased levels of Digital Study Stress. Social distancing in particular led to increased stress among students during the changeover to e-learning, with Bafög recipients and women being most affected. Both social support and the structure of the study programs were shown to be a resource for reducing stress during the pandemic.