Research reveals how the school environment impacts children's anxiety levels.

In today's society, the issue of anxiety among school students is becoming increasingly significant. Research indicates that the level of anxiety in children and adolescents is influenced by various factors, including the environment within educational institutions. Scientists from the Moscow State Psychological and Pedagogical University have explored how psychological safety in schools affects students' anxiety levels.

2024-12-25 10:01:32https://naked-science.ru/article/column/shkole-vliyaet-na-trevozh

Researchers from MGPPU, Anastasia Ivanova and Olesya Stepanova, aimed to assess the connection between students' anxiety levels and indicators of psychological safety within the educational environment. To achieve this goal, a study was conducted involving 40 students (20 boys and 20 girls) aged 14. The findings of their work have been published in the scientific journal "Extreme Psychology and Personal Safety."

The scientists from MGPPU utilized the following methods to evaluate anxiety: the School Anxiety Diagnostic Method by R. Phillips and the Personal Anxiety Scale for Students by A. M. Prikhozhan. To assess the comfort and safety of learners, the "Psychological Safety of the Educational Environment" questionnaire was employed.

The results revealed that girls exhibit a higher level of self-assessment anxiety and experience social stress more intensely than boys.

"The level of anxiety is negatively correlated with satisfaction with the educational environment. This, in turn, leads to increased problems and fears in relationships with teachers and difficulties in self-expression (in boys). For girls, the level of anxiety is also negatively correlated with satisfaction with the educational environment, manifesting as fear of knowledge assessment and social stress," notes Anastasia Ivanova.

Correlation analysis identified relationships between anxiety levels and factors of psychological safety. For instance, boys exhibited a negative correlation between school anxiety and psychological protection, while for girls, there was a negative correlation between experiencing social stress and the level of psychological satisfaction with the educational environment.

These results support the hypothesis that a gender-dependent correlation exists between students' anxiety and indicators of psychological safety within the educational environment. High levels of anxiety may adversely affect satisfaction with the educational process, which could lead to problems in relationships with teachers and classmates.

The issue of heightened anxiety among students requires special attention from educators and parents. Creating a safe and comfortable educational environment is a key factor in reducing anxiety levels in children. This includes ensuring conditions for positive interactions between students and teachers, which fosters self-confidence and improves the psycho-emotional well-being of adolescents.