Online learning environment and mental health among university students

Abstract

Students’ experience of the pandemic required them to find ways to survive academically but, studies revealed that students’ learning and mental health are greatly affected by pandemic. Currently, much research explores topics such as effects of COVID-19 pandemic on education; teaching and learning; students' mental health. This study explores how online learning environment as to assignment, lecturer/friend, facilities & equipment, home & environment, and physical class affect the mental health of three hundred sixty-seven university students during COVID-19 pandemic at a private university in Manila, Philippines using a quantitative technique specifically causal research design.  The participants voluntarily completed the survey questionnaire measuring learning environment and mental health adapted from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan.  Research results revealed that the more university students negatively viewed online learning environment specifically in terms of assignment, lecturer/friend, facilities & equipment, home & environment, physical classes the more they have bad mental health.  Moreover, findings showed that online learning environments such as home & environment were found to be the strongest predictor of mental health among university students. The study implies that distractions in home environment during online classes resulted in negative mental health of university students.