A Reflection on the Relationship Between Place and Health: Understanding Undergraduate Student Experiences and Priorities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Date
2022-08
Authors
Rao, Abhigna
Hoffman, Lindsay
Bleakley, Amy
Karpyn, Allison
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Delaware Journal of Public Health
Abstract
Environment and setting have a large influence on matters of population health, and college is a
critical place for students, shaping both health and education. College students across the nation
were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and changes at universities left many anxious,
isolated, and coping with social, emotional, and educational impacts. Objective: To perform a
data analysis of the qualitative responses garnered through the Student Return to Campus Survey
administered at the University of Delaware (UD) in Spring 2020, and to identify common themes
of student experiences and priorities during the pandemic years to inform future
recommendations for health crisis management. Methods: The study utilized secondary data
analysis from an online student experience survey of 2,941 Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior
students from the 2020-2021 academic year. Results: Qualitative analysis revealed a set of
common outstanding themes influencing the college pandemic experience, including: Quality
and Accessibility of Education in a Virtual Learning Environment; Quality of Student Life;
Mental Health During the Pandemic; Thoughts and Attitudes About Vaccination Policies,
Masking, Testing, and COVID Guidelines; Priorities and Considerations About the Return to
Campus; and Overall Feelings About the Pandemic at UD. Conclusions: Student experiences
were influenced by academic, social, emotional, and financial factors, which were often
described with great intensity, and were at times contradictory. Students emphasized struggles
with transitioning to and with virtual learning, the quality of campus resources, financial
responsibilities, family health, and personal health. The results also shed light on the importance
of communication with the campus community and the desire for students to express opinions
during a crisis. Health Policy Implications: The results of this study have implications for crisis
management for college campuses and planning for future responses to unanticipated events and
ongoing COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
Description
This article was originally published in Delaware Journal of Public Health. The version of record is available at: https://doi.org/10.32481/DJPH.2022.08.012. Copyright (c) 2022 Delaware Academy of Medicine / Delaware Public Health Association.
Keywords
quality education
Citation
Rao, Abhigna, Lindsay Hoffman, Amy Bleakley, and Allison Karpyn. “A Reflection on the Relationship Between Place and Health:” Delaware Journal of Public Health 8, no. 3 (August 2022): 68–77. https://doi.org/10.32481/djph.2022.08.012.