Exploring academic integrity and mental health during COVID-19: Rapid review

Purpose: The goal of this study was to understand the relationship between academic integrity and students’ mental health during the COVID-19 crisis.

Methods: We employed a rapid review method to identify relevant data sources using our university library search tool, which offers access to 1026 individual databases. We searched for sources relating to the concepts of (a) COVID-19 crisis; (b) academic integrity; and (c) mental health. We delimited our search to sources published between 01 January and 15 May 2020.

Results: Our search resulted in a preliminary data set of sources (N=60). Further screening resulted in a total nine (n=9) sources, which were reviewed in detail. Data showed an amplification of students’ anxiety and stress during the pandemic, especially for matters relating to academic integrity. E-proctoring of examinations emerged as point of particular concern, as there were early indications in the literature that such services have proliferated rapidly during the crisis, with little known about the possible impact of electronic remote proctoring on students’ well-being.

Implications: Recommendations are made for further research to better understand the impact of e-proctoring of remote examinations on students’ mental health, as well as the connections between academic integrity and student well-being in general.