Academic Self-Efficacy, Student Engagement and Psychological Distress in University Students during Covid-19

Abstract

Purpose – The pandemic COVID-19 brought a big change and challenge in everyone’s lives, particularly in education and E-learning has developed a new culture. So, the present study aimed to explore the relationship between academic self-efficacy, student engagement, and psychological distress during COVID-19 due to online classes. It also focused to find the mediating role of student engagement between academic self-efficacy and psychological distress.

Design/methodology/approach – A correlational research design was used. Through purposive sampling, data of 313 university students (Men=159, Women=154) were collected from online (google forms). Academic Situations Specific Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale (Fernández et al., 2010), Student Engagement scale (Maroco et al., 2016), and DASS-21 (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995) were used to measure the study variables.

Findings – Pearson Product Moment Correction coefficient indicated a significant negative relationship of psychological distress with academic self-efficacy and student engagement while academic Self-Efficacy was found to be positively related to Student Engagement. Process analysis indicated that student engagement significantly mediated the relationship between academic self-efficacy and psychological distress.

Originality/Value – The present study may be the first of its kind that it tried to explore the relationship of three study variables: academic self-efficacy, student engagement and psychological distress in online education during Covid-19. Therefore, theoretically, the present findings will add knowledge in the literature and raise awareness of the importance of academic self-efficacy and classroom engagement in terms of its effects on students’ mental health. The study will enable the future researchers to introduce interventions for the students who experience psychological distress and to will help to cope with their distress created by academics.