Antecedents of distance learning perception of the students during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of economic and social life, even overwhelming education. The sudden shift from face-to-face to distance learning affected the students’ learning experience. In addition to some tangible factors, such as the availability of a good connection or adequate connecting devices, several social and psychological factors may have influenced distance learning students’ perceptions. This paper aims to understand how higher education students perceived distance learning during COVID-19 and whether some socio-psychological factors, such as stress and career-related anxiety, impacted their perception. Data are collected from a survey of 1592 students from various Italian Universities and analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and partial least squares-based structural equation modelling.