Self-Perceived Psychological, Social, Academic and Personal Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Chiropractic Students in South Africa

Objective

The purpose of this observational study was to determine the social, personal, psychological, and academic self-perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Chiropractic students in South Africa.

Methods

This study used a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional design. A self-reported, Likert-scale survey of 35 online questions, administered through QuestionPro, was sent to Chiropractic students registered at 2 South African institutions from November 2022 until January 2023. The responses were anonymous. The survey was validated using a pilot study and focus group.

Results

A 51.65% (n = 97) response rate was recorded. A total of 60.00% (n = 113) of respondents expressed discomfort if individuals did not wear masks and 73.40% (n = 138) of respondents reported to have experienced conflicts due to prolonged time spent with household members in limited personal space. The respondents also experienced personal self-perceived impacts, such as 69.00% (n = 130) reported having reduced productivity, 42.00% (n = 79) increased financial difficulties, 50.00% (n = 94) decreased physical activity, and 80.85% (n = 152) spent more time on social media. Participants self-reported that these challenges had detrimental effects on their mental health. These included increased anxiety (92.02%; n = 171), difficulties in thought control (75.50%; n = 142), withdrawal from social interactions (80.32%; n = 151), decreased motivation (90.96%; n = 171), and concentration issues (89.89%; n = 169). A portion of the students also reported a decline in academic marks (43.62%; n = 82) and practical skills (76.60%; n = 144).

Conclusion

Most Chiropractic student respondents perceived that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted their social and personal functioning, self-reported mental health and overall academic progress.