The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of the chiropractic students in South Africa

Abstract

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had an impact on tertiary education, especially the practical courses, such as Chiropractics. Learning platforms were moved online and exposure to practice, such as clinic interactions, was limited. Aim: To determine the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the mental health of Chiropractic students in South Africa Methodology: A QuestionPro® survey link was sent to Chiropractic students registered at Durban University of Technology and the University of Johannesburg. A total of 187 students completed the survey and the data were captured for statistical analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Software. Result: Of the 187 who responded, 60.10% expressed discomfort if individuals did not wear masks and 73.4% reported they experienced conflicts due to prolonged time spent with household members in limited personal space. The pandemic also had personal effects, such as 69% reported having reduced productivity, 42% increased financial difficulties, 50% decreased physical activity, and 80.85% spending more time on social media. They reported these challenges had detrimental effects on mental health, including increased anxiety (92.02%), difficulties in thought control (75.5%), withdrawal from social interactions (80.32%), decreased motivation (90.96%), and concentration issues (89.89%). A portion of the students (43.62%) experienced a decline in academic marks. Conclusion: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic lockdown had a negative effect on the majority of Chiropractic students, especially in terms of their academic progress, mental health, social and personal functioning.