Abstract:
Background: University undergraduates are a vulnerable group for psychological problems. The
COVID-19 pandemic, quarantine, and new normalcy had a significant impact on the
psychological health of the undergraduates as reported in the literature. Hence, different coping
strategies were adopted by undergraduates and have been practiced globally.
Objective: To assess psychological disturbances (stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms) and
coping strategies encountered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, by undergraduates of selected five
faculties at the University of Ruhuna
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted conveniently among 359
undergraduates of the randomly selected five faculties: Allied Health Sciences, Engineering,
Humanities and Social Sciences, Management and Finance, and Medicine using a web-based
questionnaires (Google Forms) from June-August 2022. In the questionnaire, stress, anxiety, and
depressive symptoms were assessed using the validated 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress
scale (DASS-21) and coping strategies were evaluated by the validated Brief COPE scale.
Results: The majority were females (62.1%). The sample's mean(SD) age was 23.67 (1.6)
years. Undergraduates were found to have a high prevalence of stress (53.7%), anxiety (41.8%),
and depressive symptoms (63.8%), respectively. It revealed a significant positive correlation
between anxiety and depressive symptoms (r=0.64, p0.001), anxiety and stress (r=0.86,
p0.001), and stress and anxiety (r=0.78, p0.001). Undergraduates reported high levels of
adaptive coping at a rate of 33.2%, compared to undergraduates who coped with maladaptive
coping (9.1%). Active coping, acceptance, and religion were the most popular adaptive coping
strategies. Self-distraction techniques were used as maladaptive coping strategies.
Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, most undergraduates reported high levels of
stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, and relationships between these variables were positive.
Undergraduates employed more adaptive coping strategies than maladaptive coping strategies.
Mental health development programs, stress management programs, and counseling are very
important events to initiate in universities to cope with unexpected situations.