The impact of distance learning on the health in students (literature review)

Distance learning (DL) is widespread in higher education institutions. The COVID-19 epidemic has led to the transfer of only DL to students in most countries of the world. However, the use of DL is associated with a number of health risk factors. The purpose of the review was to study the impact of DL on the health in students.

A literature search was conducted using PubMed and elibrary.ru search engines. The initial search allowed identifying forty five thousand seven hundred eighty eight reports, after an independent assessment by two experts, there are still 47 full-text reports containing original data on the impact on the health in students.

The analysis of the topics of reports allowed establishing all publications to  be devoted to the study of the impact of DL on the health in students during the COVID-19 epidemic, which does not allow differentiating the impact of DL on health from the influence of self-isolation and fear of covid disease. Most studies do not compare the detected changes in health status during traditional training (TT) and DL. The main complaints of students, which were more common than among schoolchildren, were complaints of painful sensations in the eyes, decreased vision, and sleep disorders. The revealed changes in mental status (anxiety, depressive manifestations) are rather determined not by the presence of DL, but by the influence of self-isolation and fear of covid disease. The transition to DL also led to an increase in students’ body weight, a decrease in physical fitness, and a deterioration of the cardiovascular system. More pronounced changes in the state of health were noted in girls.

Conclusion. The identified adverse changes in the health of students in the DL conditions can be minimized by using DL in combination with TT and compliance with hygienic requirements for the managing of training.

Contribution:
Bobrisheva-Pushkina N.D. — the concept and design of the study, collection of material, editing;
Kuznetsova, L.Yu. — collection of material, writing a text;
Onishchenko G.G — the concept of the study, editing the final text.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: December 4, 2024 / Revised:  January 9, 2025 / Accepted: March 26, 2025 / Published: June 27, 2025

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