Aim
The purpose of the study is to investigate what changes university and college students have made in their everyday and study routines as a result of the transition to distance education due to Covid-19 and how it has affected their mental and physical health. The study's questions are: What have the students done for changes in study routines as a result of the restrictions for Covid-19? Have the changes students have made with the transition to distance education affected them positively or negatively in their physical and mental wellbeing?
Methods
A qualitative study design was chosen as the purpose of the study was to clarify and deepen what changes students have made in their everyday and study routines and how this has affected their well-being. The data collection was done through a semi-structured interview. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed through a content analysis.
Results
Nine students aged 19-31 from Swedish universities and colleges were interviewed. All participants have switched to distance learning due to Covid-19. This has had both negative and positive effects on the participants' well-being. Many people feel that their mental health has deteriorated during the pandemic. The effect on physical health has in some become better and others worse depending on what changes they have made in their physical activity as a result of the transition to distance learning.
Conclusions
The majority of our participants have been negatively affected psychologically by distance learning as a result of Covid-19, mainly due to lack of social contacts. Physical health has been affected both positively and negatively and, above all, increased sedentary activity seems to be what has affected physical health negatively. Most people think that they will feel better if the situation returns to what it was like before the pandemic.