COVID-19 University Experiences: Coping, Resilience, and Burnout
‘A University of St Andrews Case Study’
December 2023
Authors: Ivey-Elise Ivey, Mio Hisada, Ronnie Ben-Gal, Amberly Ying
Edited by Nina Harbison
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This online survey yielded valuable insights into four main facets of undergraduate students’ experiences at St. Andrews during and after COVID-19. These included coping strategies, the utilization of university and community services, burnout, and resilience. During COVID-19, there was a breadth of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies. The most commonly cited coping strategies were exercise and increased communication with
loved ones, followed by self-imposed isolation and poor time management of responsibilities due to a lack of structure. The transition into a post-COVID-19 ‘back to normal’ life appeared to be a challenging period of adjustment for students. Notably, some students continued to exhibit a ‘do-it-later’ mentality towards lectures and deadlines, even with the return of in-person teaching. The flexibility of administrative policies was considered as more valuable than other university resources, with students perceiving other services as only mildly effective. Post-COVID-19, there was a slight reduction in burnout ratings compared to during the pandemic, potentially indicating lasting effects.
Additionally, increased resilience was observed post-COVID-19.
Moving forward, these student responses may inform policy on various scales. Government funding could be allocated to enhance online-based mental health services accessible to students both at home and on campus. Subsidies for universities are also recommended to address financial barriers and encourage student engagement in sports and societies. The university should maintain policies regarding recorded lectures and flexible administrative guidelines, promote physical exercise, and allocate resources to improve the capacity of student services.
Encouraging further research within the St. Andrews community, particularly in areas such as physical activity, peer socialization, student services, and changes to university policy, is important as these factors were frequently mentioned by students as impacting resilience and burnout.
This preliminary study highlights the importance of not only providing resources to assist students, but also the need to continuously reflect on and refine them. Policy changes at the governmental and university levels are crucial for the prioritization of student wellbeing.