Academic and Emotional Implications of COVID-19 on University Students: Changes in Three Annual Waves

The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term academic and emotional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students in Turkey within two years. A successive independent samples study design was used with a convenience sampling method. Data were collected at three times 12 months apart between May 2020 and May 2022. A total of 375 students (78.4% females and 21.16% males) participated at Time 1, 243 students (71.6% female and 28.4 male) at Time 2, and 454 students (64.8% female and %35.2 male) at Time 3. COVID-19 International University Students Well-Being Study survey was used to collect data. Results showed that the moderate level of worry about COVID-19 at T1 had a sharp incline at T2 and a significant decline at T3 to below the initial level. Psychological well-being of the students were at moderate level at T1, remained the same at T2 and had a significant increase at T3. Although there were significant decreases in the academic stress levels of the students from T1 to T2 and T2 to T3, the stress levels were considerably higher than the average at all times. Academic satisfaction remained slightly above the average and showed no change in time. At all time periods, COVID-19 worry, and academic stress were associated with the psychological well-being. These results of this study, showing the long-term effects of the pandemic on university students, could guide social politics on health and education applications.