Students are facing high levels of stressors during the pandemic, especially black students in South Africa who already face high levels of stress. The pandemic's increase of financial hardship, food insecurity, economic and violent crimes, and domestic violence are adding to the traumatic stressors that the students have to cope with. There are elevated levels of anxiety and anxiety-related disorders affecting the preexisting mental health issues within the student population.

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Domestic confinement has students fulfilling the role of parent or caregiver for their younger siblings or elderly family members, in addition to the demands of online learning. This causes stress on self-management and self-regulation in regard to time and academic success. COVID-19 disrupted structure, routines, and set goals which lowered motivation and productivity levels. The stress of uncertainty has increased due to the disruption.