Exploring the Psycho-Social Effects of COVID -19 on School Children: The Case of Miskaye Hizunan Medahinialem Monastery School, Addis Ababa
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Date
2022-06-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore the psycho-social effects of COVID-19 on school
children. Cross-sectional mixed research approach was used to explore the problem being
studied. Primary data were collected through questionnaire, in-depth interviews, key-informant
interviews and observation. Purposive sampling technique was used to select a total of 9 key
informant interviewees and 6 in-depth interviewees to collect qualitative data. Simple random
sampling technique was used to select a total of 261 study participants to collect quantitative
data using questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using a combination of quantitative
and qualitative procedures. Quantitative data were analyzed using both descriptive and
inferential statistics. Independent samples t-test was used to compare the gender and educational
differences of depression, anxiety and stress. Qualitative data collected from KIIs and in-depth
interviews were analyzed thematically. The findings of the study show that the majority of school
children had enough information about the pandemic. The main source of information about
COVID-19 in the early stage was social media, family/friends, and television. Similarly, the
result of the study demonstrated that school children were negatively affected by COVID-19 and
they have experienced mild to extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress. School children
had lost their social relationship and integration with their friends, classmates, teachers and
relatives. To cope up with the psycho-social effects of the pandemic, school children had
engaged in various activities such as playing games, reading books, focusing on social media
and reducing the amount of information received from different media platforms. In general, the
findings of the study show that the participants of this research believe that COVID-19 has
affected their psychological and social life. The implications of this study are stated in regards to
research, social work practice and social work education.
Keywords: anxiety, depression, COVID-19, psycho-social effect, school children, stress,
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Keywords
anxiety, depression, COVID-19, psycho-social effect, school children, stress