Table 2 Identified themes
Theme | Codes |
|---|---|
A rise in hopelessness and level of uncertainty | Level of Uncertainty among students, Nanjing outbreak, Feeling of lost future, feeling of failure, future worries, hopelessness unpleasant feeling about returning back |
Worry | Delay in educational goals, concerns about studies and future, unbearable situation, feeling depressed |
Lost interest and focus | Feeling of laziness after a long break, enthusiasm begins to dwindle, difficulty in concentration |
Lack of support | Institutional support, lack of information, negligence of authorities, no plan of action, lost hopes, feeling of unwanted students, suspension of monthly stipend |
Unemployment and financial hardships | Hardships in finding jobs during the pandemic, lost jobs, less opportunities, job contracts, temporarily suspension of stipend, financial crisis |
Social pressure | Questioning from friends and relatives, disconnecting social relationships |
Behavioral and mood changes | Change in behavior, aggressive behavior, upset, mood changes |
Sleep disorder | Difficulty in falling asleep, excessive sleepiness, disruption in sleep, active mind, dissatisfaction with online classes |
Increased smoking | Help in reducing stress, feeling of helplessness, increase in smoking |
Academic stress | Burden of publications, workload of experiments, and unavailability of resources at home countries, delay in graduation, online classes |