Impact of the Covid-19 Lockdown on Students’ Social and Psychological Health

The abrupt closure of educational institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic had a serious impact on students and their studies. Classes were shifted online, many exams were cancelled, many students had to discontinue things that they were working on, and some students lost good job offers that were promised to them. This turn of events resulted in widespread anxiety among the students. The purpose of this research is to analyse the social and psychological aspects of the impact of the lockdown on students. The study was based on an online survey of undergraduate and postgraduate management students from different parts of India. The key findings of the study were that the most important impact of the lockdown on students has been an improvement in their relationships with family, friends, and society, followed by an adverse effect on students’ physical and mental health, and finally an enhancement of students’ self-actualisation. This last aspect has given students new motivation and hope to face the future with. © 2025 by Mihir Dash, Suprabha Bakshi and Arpana Muthyala Published under exclusive licence by Emerald Publishing Limited.