The Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Anxiety in Secondary School Students
Author(s): Ochilbek Rakhmanov, Yerkin Shaimerdenov and Senol Dane*
Abstract
Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown period may have serious negative effects on education in secondary schools. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety levels in Nigerian secondary school students.
Materials and Method: One hundred thirty-five senior and 152 junior secondary school students were included in the study. Data was collected by using a survey. The GAD-7 was used to assess the anxiety level of the students against the Covid-19 pandemic. The examination anxiety was measured by using STAI.
Results: Female students had more examination anxiety compared to male students. The examination anxiety was lower in isolated group than in non-isolated group. Whether they have relative with COVID-19 or not has no effect on anxiety. Most of both senior (79%) and junior (74%) students had sleep problems. They had higher anxiety than students without sleep changes in senior secondary school students. Most of both senior (71%) and junior (61%) students had different feeding changes. They had higher COVID-19 and examination anxieties than in students without feeding changes in junior secondary school students. Also, there were positive correlations between COVID-19 and examination anxieties in both senior and junior secondary school students.
Conclusion: Gender is important factor for COVID-19 and examination anxieties. Isolation proses has partial effect in increase examination anxiety. Also, sleep and feeding changes or problems can increase anxiety and fear in secondary school students. These factors should be taken into consideration for new strategies in education and examination systems.