As part of the SEPCON 2025 International Congress on Pedagogy, the presentation titled “University Programs in Online Modality and Their Influence on the Mental, Social, and Physical Health of the Educational Community: Opportunities and Challenges Through a Literature Review” was delivered by Micaela de Armas and Aleix Barrera-Corominas. This work is part of the first author’s doctoral thesis and addresses a topic of growing relevance in the field of higher education.
The research is based on a systematic literature review (Scoping Review) that analyzes how the online modality in university programs affects the mental, social, and physical health of students and faculty. Through the analysis of studies published over the past decade, the review identifies trends, knowledge gaps, and key factors such as anxiety, social isolation, and gender and economic inequalities. The findings show that mental health is the most affected area, followed by social health and, to a lesser extent, physical health. It is also noted that most studies focus on students, with less attention given to faculty, and that the COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point in the scientific production on this topic.
This contribution highlights the urgent need to rethink educational policies and curriculum design to protect the overall well-being of the university community in digital environments. The presentation at SEPCON 2025 reinforces the commitment of pedagogical research to the contemporary challenges of higher education.
