Date

5-16-2024

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Margaret Teresa Gopaul

Keywords

Online learning, pandemic, mental health, adolescents, academic performance, physical activity, social isolation, food insecurity and other stressors, pros and cons, and religion and mental health, parent involvement, teacher preparedness, teacher availability, flexibility, anxiety, depression, resiliency, coping skills, awareness

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of online learning on mental health. The focus included six aspects: academic performance, physical activity, social isolation, food insecurity and other stressors, pros and cons, and religion and mental health. Each aspect included advantages and disadvantages that adolescent students experienced. The study included 6th - 12th graders attending a Charter school. The eligibility requirement was that participants participated in online learning during the 2020-2021 school year. Academic performance data was obtained from the school office for students who attended the school during online learning and requested from parents if they attended other schools. Both positive and negative effects of factors were obtained using online questionnaires, which were reviewed during in-person interviews to investigate what challenges students experienced and how online learning effected mental health. Parents of student participants and current teachers were recruited and administered a short questionnaire to obtain their perspectives and observations of the six aspects. Results showed that students adapted and used alternative methods to limit negative issues to mental health. Academic performance was maintained, despite students feeling they struggled. Physical activity and food insecurity and other stressors were not a noticeable issue. Students reported both pros – flexibility, sleeping in, self-paced schedule - and cons – social isolation, technology glitches, lack of teacher connection. Students showed resiliency and self-initiative attitudes in finding alternative methods to persevere through the cons. Social isolation was reported as the most negative. Religion and mental health was not a factor in negative/positive effects.

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