Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Lifestyle in Thai Occupational Therapy Students: A Mixed Method Study
Issued Date
2022-11-01
Resource Type
ISSN
21748144
eISSN
22549625
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85147185097
Journal Title
European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education
Volume
12
Issue
11
Start Page
1682
End Page
1699
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education Vol.12 No.11 (2022) , 1682-1699
Suggested Citation
Srikhamjak T., Yanawuth K., Sucharittham K., Larprabang C., Wangsattabongkot P., Hauwadhanasuk T., Thawisuk C., Thichanpiang P., Kaunnil A. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Lifestyle in Thai Occupational Therapy Students: A Mixed Method Study. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education Vol.12 No.11 (2022) , 1682-1699. 1699. doi:10.3390/ejihpe12110118 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/86937
Title
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Lifestyle in Thai Occupational Therapy Students: A Mixed Method Study
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to global reports of hazards to mental health. However, reports regarding lifestyle changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic are lacking. Using a convergent mixed methods design, we conducted individual interviews with twelve occupational therapy students and interpreted the results by content analysis. We completed a survey of Thai Sensory Patterns Assessment (TSPA) concerning perspectives from occupational therapy students (n = 99). They identified two major themes: (i) adaptive responses were consistent with areas of occupation during the COVID-19 pandemic; (ii) multidimensional challenges were related to sensory patterns of purposeful and meaningful activities. The participants reported both positive and negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their lives. It had both positive and negative effects on the lifestyle of students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The positive effect was that most students learned better ways to protect and care for themselves. During the COVID-19 pandemic, occupational therapy students were most concerned about their online learning activities, economic problems, isolation from society, and lifestyle. The negative effects of this include stress, anxiety, loneliness, frustration, boredom, and exhaustion for occupational therapy students. As an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, occupational therapy students adapted to new lifestyles and experienced mental health issues related to their studies, families, friends, economics, social climate, and future job opportunities. Educators may use the findings of this study to prevent negative impacts on mental health and promote academic achievement in the future, as well as general well-being, efficacy, and empowerment of students in the new normal post-COVID-19 pandemic era.