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The effect of COVID-19 on students in Sweden and Norway

Levin, Trolle LU and Dahl, Selma LU (2021) PSYK11 20211
Department of Psychology
Abstract
The study investigates the effects of social distancing and online education during the COVID-19 pandemic on university students and high school students in Sweden and Norway. Through studies conducted in the last year it appears that students have been negatively affected by the pandemic but there is no comparative research between the two nations. The purpose of the study was to discern if there are differences in experiences of the pandemic between Swedish and Norwegian students as a result of the two countries having differing rules and restrictions to battle the pandemic. A total of 115 university students and 54 high school students took part in the study. The study was quantitative in nature and was carried out by means of online... (More)
The study investigates the effects of social distancing and online education during the COVID-19 pandemic on university students and high school students in Sweden and Norway. Through studies conducted in the last year it appears that students have been negatively affected by the pandemic but there is no comparative research between the two nations. The purpose of the study was to discern if there are differences in experiences of the pandemic between Swedish and Norwegian students as a result of the two countries having differing rules and restrictions to battle the pandemic. A total of 115 university students and 54 high school students took part in the study. The study was quantitative in nature and was carried out by means of online surveys. These consisted of 74 items aimed at university students and 79 items aimed at high school students. Seven factors were investigated through the surveys: opinions regarding rules and restrictions, impact on social life, physical activity, psychological well being, stress, motivation and academic performance. Two significant differences were found between the countries. 1. Swedish students worried more regarding how the pandemic had been handled by the government, while Norwegians were content with how things had been handled. 2. Norwegian students reported lower academic performances compared to Swedes during the pandemic.When looking at age groups two significant results were found. 1. Students aged 26 and above reported the pandemic having a higher impact on their social life than did 19-22 year olds. 2. 16-18 year olds were significantly less motivated during the pandemic than students aged 23-25 years old. A correlation matrix was calculated in which the physical activity factor stood out. Respondents who reported high levels of physical activity were less worried regarding the handling of the pandemic, less stressed, more motivated, had better academic performances and reported higher psychological well being. The opposite was true for respondents who reported low levels of physical activity.
The study showed that there are certain differences between the countries when it comes to the experience of the pandemic, and that the average respondent had been negatively affected by the pandemic. Physical activity is pointed out as being a mediating factor which is worth investing in for the occurrence of future pandemics. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Studien undersöker effekter av social distansering och distansundervisning under COVID-19-pandemin bland universitetsstudenter och gymnasieelever i Sverige och Norge. Studier som genomförts under det senaste året visar att studenter har påverkats negativt av pandemin men det finns ingen jämförande forskning mellan de två till synes liknande länderna. Syftet med studien var att undersöka om det fanns skillnader i hur Svenska och Norska studenter har upplevt pandemin till följd av olika regler och restriktioner länderna emellan. Totalt deltog 115 universitetsstudenter och 54 gymnasieelever. Undersökningarna var kvantitativa och utfördes genom digitala enkäter med 74 frågor riktade till universitetsstudenter och 79 frågor riktade till... (More)
Studien undersöker effekter av social distansering och distansundervisning under COVID-19-pandemin bland universitetsstudenter och gymnasieelever i Sverige och Norge. Studier som genomförts under det senaste året visar att studenter har påverkats negativt av pandemin men det finns ingen jämförande forskning mellan de två till synes liknande länderna. Syftet med studien var att undersöka om det fanns skillnader i hur Svenska och Norska studenter har upplevt pandemin till följd av olika regler och restriktioner länderna emellan. Totalt deltog 115 universitetsstudenter och 54 gymnasieelever. Undersökningarna var kvantitativa och utfördes genom digitala enkäter med 74 frågor riktade till universitetsstudenter och 79 frågor riktade till gymnasieelever. Deltagarna fick svara på frågor gällande sju faktorer: regler och restriktioner, social påverkan, fysisk aktivitet, psykiskt välmående, stress, motivation och prestationer i skolan. Två signifikanta skillnader upptäcktes. 1. Svenska studenter oroade sig mer för hur pandemin hade hanterats av landets regering och folkhälsomyndighet, medan man i Norge var nöjd med hur pandemin hade hanterats. 2. Norska studenter rapporterade sämre studieresultat än svenska studenter under pandemin. Sett till ålder upptäcktes två signifikanta resultat. 1. Studenter över 26 år upplevde en större påverkan på det sociala livet till följd av pandemin än vad 19-22-åringar gjorde. 2. 16-18-åringar var signifikant mindre motiverade under pandemin än vad individer i åldrarna 23-25 var. En korrelationsmatrix konstruerades vari faktorn fysisk aktivitet stack ut. Respondenter som rapporterade höga nivåer av fysisk aktivitet var mindre oroade för hanteringen av pandemin, mindre stressade, mer motiverade, bättre presterande och mer välmående. Motsatsen var sann för respondenter som rapporterade låga nivåer av fysisk aktivitet.
Studien visade att särskilda skillnader finns mellan de två länderna gällande hur respondenterna upplevt pandemin, samt att den genomsnittliga respondenten påverkats negativt av pandemin. Fysisk aktivitet pekas ut som en medierande faktor som är värd att investeras kring för att underlätta vid framtida pandemier. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Levin, Trolle LU and Dahl, Selma LU
supervisor
organization
course
PSYK11 20211
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
COVID-19, Social distancing, Well-being, Stress, Motivation, Performance, University students, High school students, Sweden, Norway.
language
English
id
9064616
date added to LUP
2021-09-02 13:44:22
date last changed
2021-09-02 13:44:22
@misc{9064616,
  abstract     = {{The study investigates the effects of social distancing and online education during the COVID-19 pandemic on university students and high school students in Sweden and Norway. Through studies conducted in the last year it appears that students have been negatively affected by the pandemic but there is no comparative research between the two nations. The purpose of the study was to discern if there are differences in experiences of the pandemic between Swedish and Norwegian students as a result of the two countries having differing rules and restrictions to battle the pandemic. A total of 115 university students and 54 high school students took part in the study. The study was quantitative in nature and was carried out by means of online surveys. These consisted of 74 items aimed at university students and 79 items aimed at high school students. Seven factors were investigated through the surveys: opinions regarding rules and restrictions, impact on social life, physical activity, psychological well being, stress, motivation and academic performance. Two significant differences were found between the countries. 1. Swedish students worried more regarding how the pandemic had been handled by the government, while Norwegians were content with how things had been handled. 2. Norwegian students reported lower academic performances compared to Swedes during the pandemic.When looking at age groups two significant results were found. 1. Students aged 26 and above reported the pandemic having a higher impact on their social life than did 19-22 year olds. 2. 16-18 year olds were significantly less motivated during the pandemic than students aged 23-25 years old. A correlation matrix was calculated in which the physical activity factor stood out. Respondents who reported high levels of physical activity were less worried regarding the handling of the pandemic, less stressed, more motivated, had better academic performances and reported higher psychological well being. The opposite was true for respondents who reported low levels of physical activity. 
The study showed that there are certain differences between the countries when it comes to the experience of the pandemic, and that the average respondent had been negatively affected by the pandemic. Physical activity is pointed out as being a mediating factor which is worth investing in for the occurrence of future pandemics.}},
  author       = {{Levin, Trolle and Dahl, Selma}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The effect of COVID-19 on students in Sweden and Norway}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}