Mental Health of Grade 12 Students amid COVID-19: A Mixed Method Study

Year 2022, Issue: 56, 175 - 197, 01.09.2022

G Prakasha , Anthony Kenneth

https://doi.org/10.9779/pauefd.1020900

Abstract

COVID-19 salgını, küresel olarak ülkeleri tam bir sokağa çıkma yasağına zorladı. Rutin yaşam tarzındaki bu olağandışı bozulma, dünya çapında bir endişe ve korku duygusu yarattı. Sınavlar, giriş sınavları, okullara ve kolejlere kabuller ertelendi ve çevrimiçi eğitim moduna geçtiler. Bu hakim belirsizlik, 12. Sınıf öğrencilerinin ruh sağlığının bozulmasına neden oldu. Mevcut ruh sağlıklarını yaşadıkları deneyimlerden anlamak, daha iyi yönetime, yetkililerin kararlarına ve akıl sağlığı bakımına yol açabilir. Bu çalışma, 12. sınıf öğrencilerinin ruh sağlığını COVID-19 salgını sırasında yaşadıkları deneyimlerden analiz etmeyi amaçlamıştır. Çalışmada karma yöntem araştırma tasarımı kullanılmıştır. Nicel kısım, Bangalore şehrinde 12. sınıflarına devam eden 300 öğrenciye bir anket uygulanmasını içeriyordu. Niteliksel kısım, sekiz öğrenciyle yarı yapılandırılmış bir görüşmeyi içerdi ve görüşme verilerini yorumlayıcı fenomenolojik analiz (IPA) kullanarak analiz etti. Çalışma, katılımcılar tarafından deneyimlenen yüksek derecede zihinsel stresi ortaya çıkardı. Kızların erkeklerden daha yüksek zihinsel stresi vardı. Çalışma, ana temalar ve alt temalarda katılımcının COVID-19 pandemisi sırasında yaşadığı deneyimleri anlattı. Bulunan ana temalar, ruh sağlığını etkileyen faktörler, olumlu yaşanmış deneyimler ve krizle başa çıkma mekanizmalarıdır.

Keywords

COVID-19, 12. Sınıf, yaşanan deneyimler, başa çıkma mekanizması, Pandemi

Mental Health of Grade 12 Students amid COVID-19: A Mixed Method Study

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic compelled countries globally to a complete lockdown. This unusual disruption to routine lifestyle has created a sense of anxiety and fear across the globe. Examinations, entrance tests, admissions to schools and colleges were postponed, and they switched to the online mode of instruction. This prevailing uncertainty led to the deteriorated mental health of Grade 12th students. Understanding their current mental health from their lived experiences can lead to better management, decisions from the authorities, and mental health care. The present study aimed to analyze the mental health of 12th-grade students’ from their lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study employed a mixed-method research design. The quantitative part involved the administration of a questionnaire to 300 students pursuing their 12th grade in Bangalore city. The qualitative part involved a semi-structured interview of eight students and analyzed interview data using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The study revealed a high degree of mental stress experienced by the participants. Girls’ had higher mental stress than boys did. The study described the participant’s lived experiences amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in main themes and sub-themes. The main themes found are factors affecting mental health, positive lived experiences, and mechanisms to cope with the crisis.

Keywords

mental health, covid-19, grade 12, lived experiences, coping mechanism, pandemic

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