Abstract:
COVID 19, a worldwide catastrophe that brought about significant changes in
the lives of people around the world. These changes have long-lasting effects
on the economic, social, educational, physical, and mental well-being of
individuals. Like other countries affected by COVID-19, Sri Lanka has taken
steps to provide many services online, including education. This research
attempts to identify psychological problems faced by undergraduates during
the lock down period and its long-lasting impact on future career goals. Case
study methodology was adopted for 10 undergraduates of final year of the
faculty of Management and Finance and the Faculty of Humanities and Social
Sciences of University of Ruhuna. The research is qualitative and aims to gain
an insight into undergraduates' psychological problems during the lock down
period. Interviews were conducted over the phone using pre-prepared
structured interviews. All responses were gathered for the sections: Personal
life-Physical and Mental, Academic life, Career Goals, Social Life, Family
Life, and Spiritual Life. Data was analyzed based on thematic analysis, and
themes will be based on the aforesaid six areas. According to responses, they
faced financial hardship, concerns about infection, dread of mortality, and a
sense of hopelessness. Participants were concerned about the unpredictable
length of time it would take to return to "regular life". Psychological studies
of COVID 19 can help ensure psychological interventions at various stages of
public health emergency management to mitigate mental and social unrest. It
has the potential to assist society in returning to normalcy with the fewest
possible losses, according to experts.
