Impact of social distancing on young students: Do educational activities positively influence their emotional wellbeing?

Background: Understanding the personal, academic and psychological effects of social distancing is vital to prevent the unintended consequences post pandemic. The study explored the psychological impact of social distancing and the student's perception on the effective utilization of the lockdown period. Material and Methods: A cross sectional questionnaire based study was conducted in 411 participants (17–25 years). Results: Life pattern of the students changed significantly. The negative impacts included stress due to restricted movement, loneliness, loss of peer interaction, academic content and uncertainty about future prospects. No gender difference in student's outlook was observed. They highly acknowledged the online teaching. Conclusion: In conclusion to balance the emotional and educational wellbeing of the students, teachers can wisely use the internet resources for education.