Occupational balance, changes in occupations and psychological well-being of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background

Occupational balance (OB) is related to physical health as well as physical and psychological well-being (PWB). The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the occupations of people probably affecting their OB and PWB.

Aims

The aim of the study was to determine OB of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic and establish relationships between a. OB and changes in occupations in comparison with the pre-pandemic period as perceived by the study group, b. OB and PWB.

Materials and methods

An exploratory study was performed using a cross-sectional research design during the second wave of the pandemic in November 2020. 1,330 university students aged 18–30 took part in the study. The Occupational Balance Questionnaire and the Psychological General Well-Being Index were used. Three-Way ANOVA as well as Forward Stepwise Regression analyses were used, and ρ Spearman’s correlation coefficients were calculated.

Results

A greater OB was found in men, people studying in a small city and first year students. The respondents declared changes in the time spent on almost all occupations, especially an increase in the time spent on using the Internet and passive resting, but a decrease in the time of meetings friends. OB positively correlated with the increase in time spent on almost all occupations, except for the Internet and with PWB.

Conclusions

Polish university students observe that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed their daily occupations. Some of these changes may adversely affect their OB and, consequently, PWB.

Significance

Occupational therapists should increase students’ awareness of the importance of OB, support them in pursuing their hobbies, meeting friends, and getting sufficient sleep and physical activity.

Keywords:

• Balance in daily activities
• coronavirus
• mental state
• undergraduate and graduate student

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science in Poland in the year 2021 under Research Group no 4 at the Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw.