Double disaster: exploring post-traumatic experiences among students

The years 2020 and 2021 witnessed how the world had to deal with the unprecedented educational circumstance prompted by a global pandemic. The swift change to online learning was stressful and taxing in many ways, for both students and teachers, affecting their physical and mental health. Combating the spread of Covid-19 is aggravated by various natural disasters in several countries, including Malaysia. In the aftermath of a disaster, physical impacts such as the destruction of infrastructure and human casualties are easily noticeable. Yet there are often many psychological impacts present too such as anxiety, shock, sleeplessness and uncertainties concerning the future. With the combination of pandemic and natural disasters, the distress caused by these successive events may have become a hindrance to students’ deep involvement in learning. Therefore, this study seeks to explore the difficulties faced by individuals affected by a combination of a global pandemic and natural disasters. Employing a quantitative approach through an online survey, 409 participants were selected from stratified random sampling. In addition, quantitative data gathered through a questionnaire were analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings indicate that the dual disasters increased stress levels, leading to heightened academic, behavioural, and financial pressures on students. The findings of this study will be instrumental in formulating strategic measures that best complement the needs of students during a double disaster, particularly in addressing the psychological impact towards this vulnerable group.