Psychological Impact of Online Education on University Students during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Case study on ESL Undergraduates at Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the psychological impact of online education on English as Second Language (ESL) undergraduates at Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. In an unexpected transition from traditional in-class learning to online education in the university, online tools, techniques and new online learning methods have been often considered and experimented, however, students’ mental well-being within the long-term online learning process is seldom addressed. This study addresses that research gap which prompts more attention on stress and anxiety encountered by undergraduates at a time of home-confinement in a pandemic situation. This study is mainly a quantitative study in which the research design is a survey method. A questionnaire survey was carried out on a random sample of first- and second-year students who follow ESL in the Faculty of Social Sciences & Languages at Sabaragamuwa University. Students’ level of stress and anxiety, academic satisfaction, performance in online assessments and their perceptions of online learning were studied. The study revealed that negative psychological effects like stress, anxiety and hopelessness often occur due to the continuous endurance of online lectures and assessments with poor internet connectivity issues. The results further revealed the urgent need to develop an alternate mechanism to continue education without interruption to face unexpected future crises . Further, the study suggests providing students more time to get ready for online assessments and inculcate interactive sessions online in order to minimise stress and discomfort during the online learning process.