The Anxiety and Hope Levels of Adolescents for the Future in the COVID-19 Outbreak

• Main Authors: İrem Cihanyurdu, Çağla İlbasmış, Ayşe Toksoy Aksoy, Hatice Ünver, Ayşe Rodopman Arman
• Format: Article
• Language: Turkish
• Published: Galenos Yayinevi 2021-04-01
• Series: Çocuk ve Gençlik Ruh Sağlığı Dergisi
• Subjects: covid-19; anxiety; hope; child mental health; pandemic; quarantine; epidemic adolescent
• Online Access: http://cogepderg.com/archives/archive-detail/article-preview/the-anxiety-and-hope-levels-of-adolescents-for-the/47307
• ISSN: 2687-3532; 2687-3532

Objectives:This research was planned to determine the anxiety and hope levels of adolescents for the future, during the quarantine days which applied in Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and after the quarantine “new normal” period.Materials and Methods:Our research includes the data of an online questionnaire prepared by Marmara University Faculty of Medicine Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The questionnaire was applied 2 times during the quarantine period (8-15 April 2020) and after the quarantine end (5-12 August 2020). The questionnaire includes questions about sociodemographic data, the level of knowledge about COVID-19, the level of anxiety and hope for the epidemic and subsequent periods. Participants were also asked to fill in the Hope Scale for Children and the Dispositional Hope Scale.Results:One hundred thirty six participants between the ages of 11-18 filled the questionnaire, which was applied for the first time on April 8-15, and the average age of the participants was found to be 15.83±1.86 years. One hundred twenty two participants filled the questionnaire applied between 5-12 August and the average age of the group was 14.73±2.25 years. It was observed that the frequency of following the news and developments about the coronavirus decreased in the survey in August. In both April and August surveys, it was observed that uncertain process and uncontrolled eating and gaining caused more anxiety in girls than boys (p <0.05). In both surveys, there was no significant difference in terms of hope levels by gender.Conclusion:Although the data of the online questionnaires discussed in our study do not reflect a clinical situation, these data will contribute information for medical literature about anxiety and hope levels in adolescents during the pandemic process. It is thought that there is a need for new studies to be conducted with children and adolescents whom mentally vulnerable group.