Investigating and Managing the Psychological Effects of COVID-19 Outbreak on the Mental Health of Students in the Post-Corona Era: A Systematic Review

In addition to the effects of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the physical health of people, it has also left many psychological effects on people. Among the people exposed to these consequences are students. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to examine and determine the strategies for managing the psychological effects of the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease on the mental health of students in the post-corona era.

In this systematic review study, articles in PubMed, Springer, ISI, Scopus, Science direct, Google Scholar, Magiran, Noormags, and SID databases were searched and investigated using keywords related to the goals and topic of the research including COVID-19, mental health of students, psychological effects of corona, psychological disorders of the corona era, corona management solutions, and post-corona, during 2019 to 2021. The analysis of the articles was carried out qualitatively and according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the results were summarized in the form of a flowchart and a table.

The results of the review of 20 final articles (12 English and 8 Farsi articles) based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria checklist indicated that the spread of the COVID-19 disease has left destructive and negative psychological effects and consequences on the mental health of students in three educational, individual, and social dimensions.

In order to manage the psychological effects of the COVID-19 disease in different dimensions (individual, social, and educational), developing and presenting a strategic and comprehensive program in a participatory manner in the education system in the post-corona era based on the three principles of setting goals and choosing the policy, paying attention to the influential components, and specifying the executive factors based on the scope of duties, is an undeniable truth.