Psychological, Emotional, Cognitive and Familiar Factors Associated with Academic Engagement in Students of a Public University in Mexico during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Research is carried out on factors that influence academic performance in a group of students of Educational Sciences, from a public university in Mexico, after confinement due to COVID-19 pandemics. In a non-experimental, cross-sectional design was used, a Likert scale is used, to analyze mainly variables related to students’ mental and emotional health and academic engagement. A sample of 34 students (85% female, 20-25 aged). All participants came from other states or towns near to the city, from medium-low economic resources; some of them had work to continue studying. Students reported that they suffered moments of anxiety, fear, loneliness, depression, claustrophobia, and constant stress. Regarding academic engagement, it was found that they were easily distracted, it was difficult for them to complete their homework on time, to learn and to study, and some of them dropped out of school to work in order to financially help his family. It is suggested that research must be carried out to test interventions aimed at preventing and overcoming emotional and mental problems that may affect students’ learning and integral development. Keywords: academic engagement, anxiety, depression, stress, undergraduate students, COVID-19 pandemics