Disruption of everyday life in times of crises – explanatory factors of well-being among students during COVID-19

Abstract

This article examines explanatory factors behind well-being among Danish students during the COVID-19 crisis. The empirical analyses are based on a two round panel survey among students at Roskilde University in Denmark. Using fixed effect regression and random effect regression our results show that, amongst the variables included in the analysis, the level of self-assessed structure in everyday life has the strongest positive effect on the self-assessed level of well-being. We briefly discuss this finding which is supported by qualitative data from the survey. The article concludes that the major changes in everyday life, caused by the COVID-19 crisis and societal lockdown, for example, isolation, virtual classes etc., makes it more difficult to draw upon internalized habits and navigate socially, which may contribute negatively to well-being. Conceptually, the article calls for a deeper engagement with the role of everyday life structure and its effects on well-being at a more general level.