{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,26]],"date-time":"2025-03-26T00:40:09Z","timestamp":1742949609088,"version":"3.40.3"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,25]],"date-time":"2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1742860800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n<jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>The present study, grounded in the Stress-Adaptation-Growth theory, aims to explore the mental well-being among dental technology students during the post-pandemic period.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n<jats:title>Materials and methods<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>A mixed-method approach was employed among undergraduate dental technology students in Malaysia. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) was adapted and modified for dental technology students. The content of the questionnaire was validated by two experienced faculty experts. Construct validity and internal consistency were measured. An online survey was created using Google Forms and disseminated to 10 Bachelor of Dental Technology (BDT) students. Meanwhile, qualitative data were obtained through one-on-one semi-structured interviews, employing a phenomenology approach and thematic analysis to explore students\u2019 experiences in the new educational landscape.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n<jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>All students answered the survey, predominantly females. Prevalence of depression (60% normal, 10% mild, 30% moderate), anxiety (30% normal, 30% mild, 10% moderate, 10% severe, 20% extremely severe), and stress (70% normal, 10% mild, 10% moderate, 10% severe) was reported. Qualitatively, three major themes emerged: \u201cProblems with adaptations\u201d, \u201cAnxious about returning to campus\u201d, and \u201cConcern about the future\u201d. The first theme included sub-themes: \u201cDifficulties in transitioning to hybrid learning\u201d and \u201cDisruption in study-life balance\u201d. The second theme had four sub-themes: \u201cFear of being infected\u201d, \u201cFear of being stigmatized\u201d, \u201cIncreased vigilance in personal safety measures\u201d, and \u201cConfusion about standard operating procedure\u201d. The third theme included sub-themes: \u201cFear of another lockdown\u201d and \u201cConcerns about timely completion of academic requirements\u201d.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n<jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>This study highlights the complex mental health challenges dental technology students faced post-pandemic, underscoring the need for flexible academic policies, global collaborations, and targeted strategies to support their resilience and well-being.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0320602","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,25]],"date-time":"2025-03-25T23:30:00Z","timestamp":1742945400000},"page":"e0320602","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Adapting new norms: A mixed-method study exploring mental well-being challenges in dental technology education"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3996-5470","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Galvin Sim Siang","family":"Lin","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6260-7348","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Wen Wu","family":"Tan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kah Hoay","family":"Chua","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jong-Eun","family":"Kim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jin","family":"Gan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mohd Haikal Muhamad","family":"Halil","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0320602.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"693916","DOI":"10.3389\/fgene.2021.693916","article-title":"COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 variants: Current challenges and health concern","volume":"12","author":"M Zeyaullah","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Genet"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0320602.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.1186\/s12903-022-02081-w","article-title":"Impact of COVID-19 on Malaysian dental students\u2019 physical, mental, financial and academic concerns","volume":"22","author":"W Lestari","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Oral Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0320602.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"364","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-021-02806-5","article-title":"Dental education changed by COVID-19: 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