Physical, Psychological and Social Secondary Consequences of the COVID‐19 Pandemic in Turkish University Students

Abstract

Abstract This study aims to investigate the effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic on university students and their families. A total of 274 students participated in this study. A questionnaire is developed regarding the physical, psychological, and social effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic, and sent to the students via e‐mail. According to the results of the study, students who contracted COVID‐19 experienced significantly higher musculoskeletal pain (MSP) (p = 0.01). Students with increased propensity for harmful habits experienced significantly more MSP (p = 0.01). Anxiety levels of students who experienced MSP were significantly higher (p = 0.01). Students living in an inadequate home environment were significantly more prone to harmful habits (p = 0.01). The anxiety level of the students who experienced domestic unrest was high (p = 0.02). The home environment of students with economic difficulties was significantly inadequate (p = 0.01). The anxiety levels of the students whose participation in sports and art activities decreased, were high (p = 0.04). The home environment of the students who reported that they were positively affected by distance education was significantly inadequate (p = 0.03). The authors suggest that physiotherapy, nutrition and psychological assistance services should be provided to students, scholarship opportunities and extracurricular activities (art and sports activities) should be increased.

Keywords

• addiction
• anxiety
• COVID‐19 pandemic
• musculoskeletal pain
• physical inactivity
• socio‐economic effects