European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE HEALTH OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Perea González Gloria Patricia*, Cordero Perea Hazel, Labastida Andrade Judith, Flores-Ledesma Abigailt, Zarate Flores Alma and Estrada Esquivel Blanca

ABSTRACT

Some situations cause mental and emotional disorders. The "Pandemic" is related to a disease. The existence of severe or mortal cases generates states of stress. The stress states, positive or eustress arises when a person is under pressure, but the situation implies benefits. Negative stress or distress can occur in situations such as COVID-19 pandemic and is related as something that is not easily controlled. Lockdown and the length of the pandemic have generated stress, additional to this isolation with family, friends, disability of holding school meetings and face-to-face interpersonal relationships, have affected the emotional and physical state and a lack of control in a dream state, decreasing school performance in University students of health area (Stomatology). The article´s objective is to identify and show the possible consequences of mental health due to negative stress as a response to social isolation in students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study population 536 university students (3rd to 8th semester of Stomatology, period 2020). A questionnaire of 14 Likert-type items was used to obtain data on the possible consequences of mental health, economic stability, and face-to-face interpersonal relationships due to negative stress. Was observed that the Pandemic and the confinement have generated unexpected changes in University students. They are experiencing an emotional state of stress due to specific factors: family economic instability that affects any environment; lack of sleep, changes in eating habits, also, stress for fear of catching the virus. In university students, 3.7% of those were detected infected. The Implementation of the virtual teaching-learning dynamic is necessary for the educational field, where the teacher can update on this topic and achieve his goal.

Keywords: COVID-19, stress, emotional instability, virtual education.