Examining the role of social isolation and parasocial interaction among university students in the context of COVID-19 : Focusing on the sense of departmental belonging and intention to continue education

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-40
Author(s):  
Hye-Sun Lee ◽  
ZHOU NAN ◽  
Jaehee Cho
Author(s):  
Chang Liu ◽  
Melinda McCabe ◽  
Sebastian Kellett-Renzella ◽  
Shruthi Shankar ◽  
Nardin Gerges ◽  
...  

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to a decline in mental health globally. Compared to the general population, university students have been identified as a group vulnerable to developing depression symptoms during the pandemic. Social isolation, a signature mental health consequence under physical-distancing regulations, is a known predictor of depression symptoms during the pandemic. Yet, more research is required to understand the mechanism that underpins the isolation–depression association and identify psychological factors that may attenuate the association. The current study aimed to understand the role of stress and resilience in the isolation–depression association among university students. Methods: Data were collected from 1718 university students between 28 and 31 May 2020. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to examine the mediating role of perceived stress and the moderating role of resilience in the isolation–depression association. Results: We found that perceived stress partially mediated the association between social isolation and depression symptoms. Both the direct and indirect effects were moderated by participants’ resilience levels. Conclusions: Social isolation during the pandemic may contribute to depression symptoms both directly and through elevated stress levels. As an internal strength, resilience may buffer the adverse effects of isolation and stress on depression symptoms. Targeted interventions including mindfulness and physical exercise training may provide promising results in reducing depression symptoms among university students and should be considered by university administrators particularly during times of imposed physical-distancing measures.


2018 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 127-131
Author(s):  
Gérald Delelis ◽  
Véronique Christophe

Abstract. After experiencing an emotional event, people either seek out others’ presence (social affiliation) or avoid others’ presence (social isolation). The determinants and effects of social affiliation are now well-known, but social psychologists have not yet thoroughly studied social isolation. This study aims to ascertain which motives and corresponding regulation strategies participants report for social isolation following negative emotional events. A group of 96 participants retrieved from memory an actual negative event that led them to temporarily socially isolate themselves and freely listed up to 10 motives for social isolation. Through semantic categorization of the 423 motives reported by the participants, we found that “cognitive clarification” and “keeping one’s distance” – that is, the need for cognitive regulation and the refusal of socioaffective regulation, respectively – were the most commonly and quickly reported motives for social isolation. We discuss the findings in terms of ideas for future studies aimed at clarifying the role of social isolation in health situations.


2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iram Feroz ◽  
Asma Parveen ◽  
Iftekhar Ahmed ◽  
Nandita Choube

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 377-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shameem Fatima ◽  
Musferah Mehfooz ◽  
Sumera Sharif

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (Spring 2019) ◽  
pp. 215-231
Author(s):  
Mussarat J. Khan ◽  
Seemab Rasheed

The purpose of present study is to examine the role of learning strategies as moderator between meta-cognitive awareness and study habits among university students. Sample comprises of 200 students (100 male students and 100 female students) of various universities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi with age ranging from 18-25 years. In order to assess study variables questionnaires were used included Meta-Cognitive Awareness Inventory (Schraw & Dennison, 1994) measuring two-components of meta-cognition that are knowledge and regulation of cognition. Study habits demonstrated by the students were measured by the Study Habits Inventory (Wrenn, 1941). Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (Pintrich, Smith, Garcia, & McKeachie, 1991) which includes motivation and learning strategies scales. In the present study, only the learning strategies section was utilized, which measures the cognitive strategies and resource management strategies. Results revealed positive correlation between research instruments and are also having good reliability. Regression analysis reflected that meta-cognitive awareness predicts study habits among university students. Regression analysis also suggested that learning strategies including resource management strategies and cognitive strategies significantly moderates the relationship between meta-cognitive awareness and study habits. It is also explored gender differences on learning strategies, meta-cognitive awareness and study habits. Future implications of the study were also discussed.


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