Distance learning, stress and career-related anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic: a students perspective analysis

The Covid-19 pandemic made distance learning (DL) the only way to consistently provide an education to students of any age and level. The sudden switch from classroom learning to DL surely had an impact on the students learning experience as well as on their social and psychological spheres. In fact, students adaptation to DL process also depends on Covid-19 induced stress and on the anxiety for future career. The aim of the paper is to analyse an Italian university students survey on DL perception and Covid-19 related stress and anxiety. The proposed approach implements a stacked ensemble method combining data reduction and the Samejima’s Graded Response Model.