The effect of COVID-19 on students’ mental health during quarantine and isolation

The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in a global public health and mental health disaster and a massive negative psychosocial experience for students. The counteractive measures are mainly on epidemiology, prevention, and management of the COVID-19 infection, with little attention on mental health. From this background, this study sought to assess the effect of COVID-19 on students’ mental health during quarantine and isolation. An exploratory qualitative research design was applied to determine how COVID-19 affected students' mental health during quarantine and isolation. Purposive sampling was used to obtain cases deemed rich in information to ensure that saturation was reached. Thus, 12 students participated in the study. Data was collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using Tesch’s method of data analysis. The trustworthiness of data was ensured through credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability. The study revealed that participants experienced behavioural changes during quarantine and isolation. Irregular sleeping patterns, difficulty in sleeping, and decreased appetite were the behavioural changes that the participants reported. The study also highlighted the coping techniques used by the participants during their quarantine and isolation periods. Religion and support from healthcare workers, family, and friends were some coping strategies that most participants believed to be beneficial. It is concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented threat to students’ mental health during quarantine and isolation.