COVID-19 pandemic experiences and psychological well-being of a Vietnamese university student sample in Hanoi, Vietnam

Tóm tắt

Objectives: This study examined the psychological well-being (PWB), feelings about the COVID-19 impact, the resilience of a Vietnamese university student sample in Hanoi, Vietnam following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and some associated factors to the students’ PWB.

Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study that applied a mixed methods approach. Data was collected via web-based REDCap software.

Results: Results found the PWB subscale scores were: 3.30 for autonomy (SD = 0.67), 3.30 for environmental mastery (SD = 0.89), 3.47 for personal growth (SD = 0.79), 3.76 for purpose in life (SD = 0.95), 4.02 for positive relations with others (SD = 0.89), and 4.03 self-acceptance (SD = 0.71). Compared to a similar study conducted in 2019 in Hanoi, lower levels of PWB were found in all subscales except the autonomy and self-acceptance subscales in this investigation. The overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was not severely disruptive to student lives and access to resources. Students’ resilience was moderate with a mean score of 60.73 (SD = 14.23). The study revealed significant negative correlations between the impact of COVID-19 and two aspects of PWB: environmental mastery and positive relations with others. Resilience was shown to be positively associated with the PWB dimensions of self-acceptance.

Conclusions: Universities are encouraged to consider incorporating resilience interventions into school extracurricular activities as part of strategies to support students' mental health during and in the aftermath of pandemics.