The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the academic experience and performance of graduate students in Brazil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35699/2178-1990.2024.49359Keywords:
COVID-19, Academic Performance, Students, Education, GraduateAbstract
Aim: To investigate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the academic formation and performance of Brazilian postgraduate students.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 2897 postgraduate students. Data collection was carried out through an online questionnaire addressing socioeconomic aspects, course-related aspects, self-assessment of health, reports of depression diagnosis, and perception of the pandemic’s impact on academic formation and performance during the pandemic. Data were analyzed using Poisson regression (α = 0.05).
Results: The majority of students reported that the pandemic impacted their academic formation (65.4%). Factors associated with this outcome included being a scholarship recipient (RP = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.01 – 1.23), dissatisfaction with the course (RP = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.20 – 1.34), undergoing psychological counseling (RP = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.04 – 1.18), use of anxiolytics/antidepressants (RP = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.01 – 1.15), dissatisfaction with health (RP = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.17 – 1.33), and residing in the Northeast region (RP = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.04 – 1.22). About one-third of the students (32.5%) reported low/very low academic performance. Factors associated with this outcome included dissatisfaction with the course (RP = 2.29; 95% CI: 2.03 – 2.59), having a scholarship (RP = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.02 – 1.28), being younger (RP = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98 – 1.00), having depression (RP = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.04 – 1.36), dissatisfaction with health (RP = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.33 – 1.73), and being from the North region (RP = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.06 – 1.66).
Conclusion: The pandemic negatively affected the formation and performance of postgraduate students, especially those with postgraduate scholarships, dissatisfied with their overall health and postgraduate course.
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References
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