COVID-19 negatively impacted university students in various ways: economically, socially, and psychologically. The study by Islam et al. (2020) aimed at examining the prevalence of anxiety and depression among students. Additionally, the researchers investigated the determinants of anxiety and depression among the students.
The study involved university students in Bangladesh, who were subject to a set of questions. The researchers collected data from a total of 476 university students who responded to online questionnaires. The researchers adopted a correlational model and analyzed the collected data on three consecutive levels: univariate, bivariate, and multivariate. According to the study, university students experienced heightened depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, older students were experiencing greater depression and anxiety than younger ones.
Although research by Islam et al. (2020) has various strengths, it is limited in several ways. The researchers utilized globally validated standardized tools for quantitative analysis. For instance, the use of frequency tabulation and binary logistics regressions helped in accurately identifying variables that influence anxiety and depression. Additionally, the study was conducted during the COVID-19 period, collecting accurate and real-time data from the respondents. Therefore, the study results were accurate and can be used to back up any other research on the overarching topic. Meanwhile, the research was limited to the number of participants who came from Bangladesh and not any other country. Moreover, the study was conducted during COVID-19 with limited resources. The limitations make it difficult to use the study results in research conducted outside Bangladesh.
The article by Islam et al. (2020) is useful for my research area of interest. The study has relevant data that I can use to compare the prevalence of anxiety and depression between university male students and females. Additionally, the source has accurate results that I can apply to my research in discussing the relationship between COVID-19 and psychological disorders. The researchers utilized quantitative methodology which enhances data objectivity.
The method applies to my research since it would allow me to make my study more accurate by relying on concrete numbers and fewer variables. I can use the quantitative method to analyze data from a large sample size. The study will guide my future research since it provides background information on anxiety and depression among university students. Therefore, my future research will focus on university students in general, not from a specific country.
Reference
Islam, Md. A., Barna, S. D., Raihan, H., Khan, Md. N. A., & Hossain, Md. T. (2020). Depression and anxiety among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: A web-based cross-sectional survey. PLOS ONE, 15(8), e0238162. Web.