Online Learning Conditions and Psychological Distress among Public University Students during the Movement Control Orders (MCO).

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has hampered educational development as the nation prioritises measures to regulate and flatten the infection curve. Malaysia implemented the Movement Control Order (MCO) to practise social distancing, which resulted in the closure of all educational institutions throughout Malaysia, forcing the learning process to be continued through online measures, with students across the country striving to make online learning the new norm. As a consequence of this situation, many students experienced psychological anguish while attempting to meet the challenges of the changing world. Thus, this study aims to investigate the online learning condition and psychological distress among Malaysian Public University (IPTA) students during the Movement Control Order. This cross-sectional designed study involved students from 15 public universities as a population and a sample of 139 randomly selected samples. The modified and disseminated questionnaire showed a reliability of 0.901 for the online learning condition and 0.906 for psychological discomfort. The results showed that online learning circumstances had a substantial impact on psychological discomfort. The Ministry of Higher Education, in collaboration with university administrations, should strive to improve online learning conditions for all Malaysian students, as well as create strategies to address psychological discomfort caused by the pandemic new norm appropriateness. This is to guarantee that students are better equipped to continue their education by maximising the use of the online platform for a more effective learning experience.