EFFECTS OF COVID 19 ON PSYCHOSOMATIC ISSUES, LEVEL OF PERCEIVED THREAT AND UNCERTAINTY AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

ABSTRACT
The Covid-19 pandemic was a very stressful and threatening situation that has brought the risk of death from infection and unbearable psychological pressure on students. The uncertainty about the prevailing situation triggered stress in students. Factors associated with increased stress are the online education system, financial crisis and parents’ concerns about their children's future. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the level of a perceived threat of COVID 19, level of uncertainty in and the rise in psychosomatic complaints in university students during COVID-19. A cross sectional web-based survey was carried out to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on University Students of Pakistan. Population size was 300, and data was collected by spreading a semi structured questionnaire on Social Media. Data were analyzed by using an IBM SPSS 23.0. Duration of the study was 6 Months. The level of depression increased during COVID-19 from mild (Mean 4.02+3.24) to moderate (Mean 5.64+3.55). There was a moderate (Mean 12.52+4.428) level of uncertainty and the moderate (Mean 13.84+4.428) level of threat of virus affecting people. During Covid-19 people faced moderate level of threat and uncertainty. The level of depression increased from mild (Before COVID-19) to moderate (During COVID-19), among university students in Pakistan.