Use of latent profile analysis and k-means clustering to identify student anxiety profiles

Background Anxiety disorders are often the first presentation of psychopathology in youth and are considered the most common psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. This study aimed to identify distinct student anxiety profiles to develop targeted interventions. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 9738 students in Yingshan County. Background characteristics were collected and Mental Health Test (MHT) were completed. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was applied to define student anxiety profiles, and then the analysis was repeated using k-means clustering. Results LPA yielded 3 profiles: the low-risk, mild-risk and high-risk groups, which comprised 29.5, 38.1 and 32.4% of the sample, respectively. Repeating the analysis using k-means clustering resulted in similar groupings. Most students in a particular k-means cluster were primarily in a single LPA-derived student profile. The multinomial ordinal logistic regression results showed that the high-risk group was more likely to be female, junior, and introverted, to live in a town, to have lower or average academic performance, to have heavy or average academic pressure, and to be in schools that have never or occasionally have organized mental health education activities. Conclusions The findings suggest that students with anxiety symptoms may be categorized into distinct profiles that are amenable to varying strategies for coordinated interventions.

Changes in College Student Anxiety and Depression From Pre- to During-COVID-19: Perceived Stress, Academic Challenges, Loneliness, and Positive Perceptions

The COVID-19 pandemic is a major stressor that has negatively impacted global mental health. Many U.S. college students faced an abrupt transition to remote learning in March 2020 that significantly disrupted their routines, likely causing changes in mental health. The current study examined changes in anxiety and depressive symptoms among 990 college students, from before COVID-19 had reached U.S. community spread to 5 months into the pandemic. Results indicate overall increases in anxiety and depressive symptoms; this effect was amplified as more COVID-related challenges with academic impact and loneliness were reported. Increases in anxiety and depression were buffered as a function of greater perceived positive changes attributed to COVID-19; the differences in anxiety and depressive symptoms over time were also lessened when greater perceived stress prior to COVID-19 was reported. Findings reveal an unexpected effect involving pre-pandemic stress, and highlight potential targets to promote resilience, which should be examined long-term.

Aspects of Large-Enrollment Online College Science Courses That Exacerbate and Alleviate Student Anxiety

This study of 2111 undergraduates examined the impact of online science courses on their anxiety. More than 50% of students reported experiencing at least moderate anxiety in online science courses. Aspects of online learning that increase and decrease anxiety are identified, and actions that instructors can take to lessen anxiety in online science courses are offered.

What is factor contributing to medical student learning anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic? A systematic review

Changes in education aspects increase the risks for mental and emotional disorders on students during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article aimed to discover the factors are contributing to medical students' learning anxiety during the COVID-19. A systematic review was written based on scientific article identification on three databases of Science Direct, PubMed NCBI, and EBSCO using terms of anxiety, factors, students, and COVID-19. The authors selected and analyzed using PRISMA based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The studies obtain from several electronic databases revealed 519 research articles and a total of 20 articles to be analyzed. The internal factor of student anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic is age, gender, and lack of knowledge. The external factor is high academic loads with online learning methods, area restrictions/lockdown, physical activities, and socio-economic status changes. Knowing the factors that affect medical student anxiety during the pandemic could prevent further mental and emotional disorders and achieve optimal health.

Teacher knowledge of anxiety and use of anxiety reduction strategies in the classroom

The current study examined elementary (or primary) school teachers’ knowledge of student anxiety and evidence-based anxiety reduction strategies, whether this knowledge was associated with their use of evidence-based anxiety reduction strategies in the classroom, and correlates of teacher knowledge and use of anxiety reduction strategies in the classroom. Fifty-one volunteer elementary teachers (98% female; 98% White) participated and completed questionnaires about: themselves and work-related factors (e.g., years of teaching experience, self-efficacy), knowledge of student anxiety and anxiety treatment (e.g., core manifestations of anxiety such as physiological arousal, behavioural avoidance, and anxious thoughts), and use of anxiety reduction strategies in the classroom (e.g., relaxation strategies, encouraging the use of coping self-talk, and gradual exposure to feared situations). Results indicated that the average score on the knowledge assessment was 57% and knowledge levels were unrelated to self-reported use of anxiety reduction strategies. The most robust correlate of knowledge of anxiety and use of anxiety reduction strategies was teachers’ perceived personal accomplishment. Findings suggest additional teacher training to increase knowledge about student anxiety and use of evidence-based anxiety reduction strategies in the classroom is warranted.

Medical student anxiety in caring for dying patients and their family: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesTo investigate the level of medical student anxiety in caring for a dying patient and their family and identify influencing factors.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey in a UK medical school to measure medical student anxiety using a validated Thanatophobia Scale questionnaire.ResultsIn total, 332 questionnaires were completed. Mean thanatophobia score was 19.5 (SD 7.78, range 7–49). Most respondents were female (67.4%) and did not have a previous undergraduate degree (56%). Median student age was 22 years (IQR 20–24). Year of study influenced anxiety level, with second year students displaying an increase in mean thanatophobia score of 6.088 (95% CI 3.778 to 8.398, p<0.001). No significant differences were observed between final year and first year thanatophobia scores. For each 1-year increase in student age, mean thanatophobia score reduced by −0.282 (95% CI −0.473 to −0.091, p=0.004). Degree status and gender identity did not significantly affect thanatophobia score.ConclusionA degree of thanatophobia exists among medical students, with no significant improvement observed by completion of training. Recognising this anxiety to care for the dying earlier in undergraduate curricula will give educators the opportunity to address students’ fears and concerns and better prepare our future doctors for their role in caring for our dying patients and their families.

The effect of Kahoot on undergraduate student anxiety and confidence when studying statistics

Many undergraduate students are required to study statistics, but often struggle understanding concepts, lack engagement, lack confidence, or feel anxious about statistics. Kahoot is a game-based learning platform that can be used to increase student engagement and learning through real-time quizzes. This study aimed to evaluate the use of Kahoot on improving students’ experience of studying statistics in an undergraduate (year 2) course. Pre and post Likert scale questionnaires (including Statistical Anxiety Measure - SAM) were used to collect student responses about their statistics study experience. Questions related to anxiety, confidence, and for the post quiz, additional questions on the impact of Kahoot on behavioural engagement. Post survey results indicate positive changes in students’ perceptions towards studying statistics in terms of anxiety and confidence. Kahoot was shown to have a significant and positive effect on student confidence and was also linked to lowered anxiety. Despite limited data, help-seeking anxiety explained over 50% of variation in final exam performance. Further research is recommended on the effect of Kahoot on student anxiety when studying statistics, particularly as it relates to confidence and performance.

A description and factors causing student anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in indonesia

Abstract- This study aims to determine the level and factors that cause student anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic. Respondents in this study were 1.013 students from five universities in three provinces in Indonesia, i.e., Lampung, Special Region of Yogyakarta, and South Sulawesi. The data were collected from 24th to 29th of April 2020. The data were obtained using a Covid-19 anxiety survey and a questionnaire about the factors causing student anxiety, which were distributed by utilizing google form. The results indicated that there were 222 students at a high and very high anxiety level with physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms. Student anxiety was triggered by two main factors, i.e., social limitation and coursework. To reduce their anxiety, the majority of respondents chose a religious approach rather than a cultural approach. Recommendations are given to counselors to include religiosity values in helping student anxiety. The university is also expected to be able to support students by providing internet quota assistance, organizing online lectures on an asynchronous model and allowing longer deadline for submission of coursework. Keywords: anxiety; students; covid-19; pandemic