COVID-19 Effects on Well-being and Academic Performance in Physical Therapy Graduate Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The global COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted physical and mental health, often resulting in reduced sleep quality and increased fatigue. This study examines how COVID-19 affects sleep, fatigue, and academic performance in graduate students, including those in physical therapy programs, to inform support strategies during these challenging times. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among graduate students at Russell Sage College. Participants provided demographic information and reported their COVID-19 infection status, sleep quality, fatigue levels, and self-reported GPA. Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), fatigue was measured with the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), and academic performance was assessed via grade point average (GPA). Given the limited sample size, data analysis utilized non-parametric tests, including the Mann-Whitney test and Spearman’s Rho. Results: Sixty-two graduate students participated in the study, with 31 reporting a history of COVID-19 infection. Results showed no significant difference in sleep quality, fatigue, or GPA between students with and without a COVID-19 diagnosis. However, students with a COVID-19 diagnosis reported slightly higher scores than those without on the PSQI (7.39 vs. 6.91) and FAS general fatigue (26.17 vs. 24.17), and slightly lower GPA (3.67 vs. 3.7), although these differences were not statistically significant. The study also found a negative association between GPA and overall fatigue (r=-0.449; P=0.028) and mental fatigue (r=-0.422; P=0.04) in students with a COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: This study suggests that COVID-19 infection might affect fatigue levels in graduate students, potentially influencing academic performance. Larger sample sizes and longitudinal studies are necessary to confirm and comprehend these findings. Physical therapy students, experiencing both physiological effects and educational disruptions, may encounter challenges, including disrupted sleep patterns, heightened fatigue, and academic consequences. Educators in physical therapy programs can leverage these insights to adjust teaching methods and offer support to mitigate the pandemic's impact on student learning.