An Examination of Mindfulness and Academic Resilience among Higher Education Students amidst COVID-19 Pandemic in Ghana

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many aspects of higher education students’ lives. The COVID-19 has influenced their cognitive abilities regarding schoolwork, balancing their lives, and maintaining academic success using mindfulness awareness and academic resilience as productive strategies. Therefore, this study examined Ghanaian students’ mindfulness and academic resilience amid the pandemic with a descriptive quantitative design survey. Data for the study were collected with adapted versions of the mindfulness and academic resilience scales. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential procedures. The study revealed that students were mindful about themselves in the pandemic, and their level of academic resilience was high. In addition, the study found no statistically significant differences in mean scores of mindfulness between male and female students and their academic levels, but statistically significant differences existed in mean scores of academic resilience and their academic levels. In this regard, the study concludes that students were mindful and resilient about activities they do during the pandemic. Therefore, higher learning institution management and faculty need to devote time in advocating for and training of students about mindfulness and resilience, as well as providing them with the best strategies for their application.