Mental Health Implications and Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Social Studies Education Students at the University of Abuja, Nigeria

This study examined the mental health impacts of the pandemic and the transformative lessons learned by Social Studies Education students at the University of Abuja, Nigeria, with attention to demographic variations in these outcomes. A descriptive survey design was utilized with a stratified random sample of 225 Social Studies Education students drawn from Years 1 through 4. Data were collected using a structured, self-developed questionnaire with a four-point Likert scale (Cronbach's α = 0.72). An independent samples t-test tested gender differences in mental health impact. One-way Analyses of Variance (ANOVA) with Tukey HSD post-hoc comparisons tested differences in mental health impact and lessons learned across year levels. The pandemic significantly impacted student mental health with sectional mean (M = 2.96, SD = 1.00). Female students reported significantly higher mental health impact (M = 2.98) than males (M = 2.78), t (223) = -2.15, p = .033. Mental health impact differed significantly by year of study, F (3, 221) = 5.82, p = .001, with Year 1 students (M = 3.18) significantly higher than Year 3 (M = 2.78) and Year 4 (M = 2.85). Students reported transformative lessons-learned with sectional mean (M = 3.31, SD = 0.81). Lessons learned differed significantly by year of study, F(3, 221) = 4.26, p = .006, with Year 1 (M = 3.42) significantly higher than Year 3 (M = 3.20). The pandemic substantially affected student mental health, with female and first-year students representing particularly vulnerable subgroups. Simultaneously, the crisis catalyzed valuable learning about health, social responsibility, and adaptability, especially among students at educational transition points. Comprehensive, gender-sensitive mental health services, year-specific psychological support, and curriculum enrichment emphasizing disaster preparedness and social justice are essential for post-pandemic educational resilience.