ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a new normal approach in the process of teaching and learning. With the affordable internet technology and superior data accessibility, e-learning has occupied a bigger position in education. This study investigates the interrelationship between student’s psychological distress and academic performance in academic settings in Pakistan. Additionally, the study further seeks to explore the mediation role of e-learning readiness and moderation of change-oriented leadership in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Data were collected from 264 students from Pakistan’s HEIs via a convenience sampling method. The relationships were tested using Smart-PLS 3.2.9. The results supported the negative effect of student’s psychological distress on their e-learning readiness and academic performance via the partial mediating effect of e-learning readiness. Moreover, change-oriented leadership moderated the relationship between psychological distress and e-learning readiness. The indirect effect of psychological distress on academic performance via e-learning readiness at high and low level of change-oriented readiness was also supported by the results. This is one of the initial studies that examines the relationship of states variables in HEIs of Pakistan. Based on the study findings, managerial implications and future research directions are recommended. © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Muhammad Mujtaba Asad, Fahad Sherwani, Razali Bin Hassan, and Prathamesh Churi;individual chapters, the contributors.