Notes
The main event in the research conducted by AlAteeq et al. (2020) is the coronavirus pandemic. After the COVID-19 outbreak, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) implemented stringent measures to control the highly infectious disease spread. Some of the precautions included closing all educational institutions in the country. Therefore, AlAteeq et al. (2020) sought to explore mental outcomes attributed to the global crisis among students.
Description of Key Events
The researchers examined perceived stress levels among students during the COVID-19 outbreak and the closure of learning institutions in KSA. The researchers used a cross-sectional survey design and convenient sampling method to draw a sample of 367 learners in KSA. Investigators created a link using Google Forms where respondents could access the online survey. The data collection tool captured socio-demographic data, perceived stress levels, and emotions regarding the pandemic. The researchers employed Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to analyze the collected data. Most of the participants reported moderate to higher levels of perceived stress. COVID-19 was significantly associated with stress levels among female participants and university students.
Analysis
The significant association between the coronavirus crisis and students’ perceived stress levels can be attributed to the negative impact of the pandemic on mental health and overall wellbeing. The findings by AlAteeq et al. (2020) confirm previous research evidence showing that disease outbreaks such as Ebola have adverse mental health consequences. School closures, mandatory curfew, and distance learning, coupled with the high infections and mortality rate caused by COVID-19, explain the correlation between the pandemic and negative emotions and concerns among the students.
Reflection
This study provides nuanced insights into the mental health consequences of coronavirus disease. The investigations exhibit higher validity and reliability because the researchers used a relatively large sample of students from different levels of learning. Furthermore, they utilized validated data collection tools such as the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Besides that, this investigation illuminates the need for counseling and stress management programs to help students cope with the emotional demands associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, using a non-probability sampling method and focusing on students from competitive specialties such as medicine limit the generalizability of the research findings. Lastly, relying on self-reported measures raises reporting bias concerns, thus threatening the overall trustworthiness of the study.
Reference
AlAteeq, D. A., Aljhani, S., & AlEesa, D. (2020). Perceived stress among students in virtual classrooms during the COVID-19 outbreak in KSA. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences, 15(5), 398-403. Web.