Perceived Academic Stress and Social Support among University Undergraduate Students During COVID–19 Pandemic

Abstract

University students have been affected by coronavirus outbreak and by the changing study conditions due to the multiple quarantine periods. This paper aimed at investigating the differences of perceived academic stress and perceived and received social support in university undergraduate students during the two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study utilized the quantitative longitudinal approach with the sample of 188 undergraduates whose participated on both stages of investigation (during the first wave and the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic). The data of Perceptions of Academic Stress Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and modified version of Received Support Questionnaire have been used for the analysis. The findings indicated that the level of social support among university undergraduates improved significantly during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic compared to the level during the first wave. It was found that all perceived social support indicators levels were higher during the second wave of pandemic than during the first wave. The study results also revealed significant differences between key received social support indicators among university undergraduates during the first and second wave of the pandemic. Specifically, university undergraduates reported greater informational support, tangible support, and received social support–total during the second wave of the pandemic than during the first wave.