Distress, Gratitude, and Online Coping Strategies in the Academe during the Pandemic (COVID-19)

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue V, May 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Distress, Gratitude, and Online Coping Strategies in the Academe during the Pandemic (COVID-19)

Amelie L. Chico, DM FRIM
University Professor/Research Coordinator
College of Business Administration Education
University of Mindanao –Panabo College
Panabo, Davao del Norte, Philippines

Abstract: COVID-19 is a global problem affecting Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This pandemic led to a strong reason among students who experience distress. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine students’ distress, gratitude and coping strategies in the academic during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings showed that adequate information and high-risk perceptions were accessible to students. Non-medical prevention measures were perceived as highly effective. There were students satisfied with the government’s actions to mitigate problems. Unwillingness to the online-blended learning approach, however, has been observed. Students used different approaches to deal with the problems of mental health challenges. During this COVID-19 pandemic among HEIs, it is important to address the mental health of learners.

Keywords: Distress, Gratitude, Online Coping Strategies, Academic, COVID-19 Pandemic

I. INTRODUCTION

Going back in world’s history, globally, we have been attacked with different phenomenal pandemic that causes fatal disruption among living things and human being existing in this world particularly last year, 2019, the existence of novel coronavirus infection, or what is commonly known as COVID—19 was recorded in Wuhan, China which spreads rapidly around the world. Moreover, the first ever case in the Philippines was recorded last January 30, 2020 and on March 7, 2020, the first local transmission of COVID-19 was confirmed (WHO, 2020). With the outbreak of this fatal pandemic it brought numerous impacts to the lives of the people, even to the Academic Perspective.

People around the world were put into Quarantine to prevent the rapid spreading of the novel coronavirus (David, Rye & Agbulos, 2020).
As quoted by Margaret Visser, “where there is no gratitude, there is no meaningful movement; human affairs become rocky, painful, coldly indifferent, unpleasant, and finally break off altogether. The social machinery grinds along and soon seizes up”.

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