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Unpleasant emotions and associated factors during the COVID-19 pandemic in a university

  • Jana Aylim Mejía Toiberd(Author)
    ,
  • Marco A. Escobar Acevedoe(Author)
    ,
  • Ana María Cuéllar Castillad(Author)
    ,
  • Manuel Alejandro Gutiérrez Gonzálezc, a, b(Author)
    ,
  • Rodrigo Puga Castrod(Author)
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Open access

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 1-17 (17 pages)

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Nova Scientia (Volume 16, Issue 32)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 2024

Publication status

Published - 2024

ISSN

2007-0705

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacted Mexico, leading to the closure of educational institutions nationwide. Two years into the pandemic, schools, including the Technological University of Querétaro, were officially reopened. We surveyed the university community to evaluate the prevalence of unpleasant emotions. We gather data on demographics, social connections, psychological factors, and significant lifestyle changes attributed to the pandemic. Our analysis, based on a multivariable logistic regression, included responses from 2,616 participants. We identified an 8-24% prevalence rate for unpleasant emotions within our sample. Exhaustion, boredom, and frustration were the most intensely experienced emotions. The analysis revealed several risk factors for heightened unpleasant emotions: being a student (odds ratio [OR] = 1.85), younger age (OR = 2.91-3.00), poly-drug use (OR = 1.21-6.23), and increased substance consumption attributable to pandemic stress (OR = 3.32). Additionally, gender differences were observed, with female participants reporting higher levels of unpleasant emotions (OR = 1.18). Other significant factors included being single (OR = 1.61), experiencing social isolation (OR = 12.07), psychophysiological changes (OR = 6.59-174), and suicidal ideation (OR = 33.25). Our findings indicate a broad variation in the prevalence of unpleasant emotions among the university community, influenced by a range of demographic and psychosocial factors.

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