The Mental Health Status of Grade 11 Students During COVID-19 Pandemic

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Coronavirus Disease is the biggest challenge the world has encountered in the

year 2020. It has been spread across the world, a lot of people died and are stressed

out because of it. Knowing that there are a lot of cases that have been suppressed by

the government due to increasing cases of coronavirus disease which lead to the

lockdown of the country, causing us disruption and distress in our daily lives. Ever since

the crisis started, everything has changed, even life as a student changed. In this

current situation, the spread of coronavirus disease affects us physically,

psychologically, financially, and academically which causes millions of people to lose

everything and leads to their psychological distress. Given that coronavirus disease

affects students academically, education is very important. Due to the new normal,

students are expected to implement distance learning as President Rodrigo Duterte

complies. Online education is a big challenge for all students and being mentally

prepared is a must. Difficult academics, stressful home atmosphere, distractions, and

pandemics are some reasons that lead us to depression, anxiety, and stress.

According to Kecojevic et al. (2020), it is reported in New Jersey that those who

unable to focus on academic work were more likely to have a high level of anxiety and

stress, while an inability to focus on academics and an elevated concern in Coronavirus

conducted a study that stated there that small and medium enterprises in African urban

which 80% of employment are highly vulnerable due to the impact of the Coronavirus

crisis. The mental health of people, especially students are closely linked with financial

conditions. Furthermore, Kaparounaki et al. (2020) studied the impact of COVID-19 on

University students’ mental health in Greece. It is stated there 42.5% for anxiety, 42.5%

for anxiety, 74.3% for depression, and 63.3% for total suicidal thoughts. These are the

results they get from 1000 university students, concerning the impact of lockdown on

their mental health. However, in South Korea, out of the 3,983 respondents they said

that their mental health had worsened since the Coronavirus crisis due to reduction of

outdoor activities, social distancing, disconnection among friends or family, and the

‘inconvenience’ of wearing a mask (Sajid, 2020). In addition, a psychiatrist named Chi-

Hung Au (University of Hongkong) stated that Children that have autism disorder and

need a special education are at risk (Lee, 2020).

Accordingly, in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire

Luzon on enhanced community quarantine on March 16, 2020 (Tee et al., 2020).

Therefore, DepED shifted to distance learning to comply with the delay of face-to-face

classes until a coronavirus vaccine becomes available in the country. According to

Duddu (2020), president Rodrigo Duterte has implemented an ECQ and instructed all

people to be confined in their home and the closure of schools, universities, public

places, public transportation etc. From then on, teachers and administrators who are

confined to their homes were put to task where they shifted to asynchronous and
synchronous courses (J., 2020). The students and teachers had to access gadget

devices and internet connection to perform an online education abide by the law. But,

those students and teachers who had limited internet connections and gadget devices

are using smartphones to exchange notes, lessons, messages, and materials via

messenger, facebook, and email. In this case, this kind of system is unsustainable and

can affect student’s learning modalities based on what J. (2020) states. Where in fact

students are experiencing mental health issues during online education, students are

stressed out due to their classes’ workload and the struggle to adopt the new system

(Magsambol,2020). It is stated that students not only faced academic difficulties but also

family or even relationships. In spite of that, the Philippines has a landmark mental

health law that secures and provides mental health needs or services to schools,

barangays, and workplaces.

Stated in the study of Cagula (2020), Davao City, Philippines a third-year college

student has to stay up late and wake up early to catch up with all the online subjects

and assignments that come with delays due to erratic internet connection in her far-

away residence in Aleosan, North Cotabato. As the education sector began this school

year with the “new normal” of holding online classes due to the coronavirus (COVID-19),

students such as Grace have suffered physically and mentally with this new mode of

online and distance learning. DepEd complies with distance learning as President

Rodrigo Duterte announced to delay the face-to-face classes until the coronavirus

vaccine becomes available in the country (Magsambol, 2020). “DepEd should be

reminded that the module templates, including the instructions on the number of
activities that it should contain, all came from them, teachers are only implementing the

agency plan,” ACT secretary-general Raymond Basilio said. Such problems raised

concerns on the mental well-being of both educators and learners. The University of the

Philippines-Manila Student Council Health Committee, along with other organizations,

underscored that mental health should not be discussed separately from the society

“because more often than not, mental illnesses are caused or exacerbated by problems

in the acquisition of physiologic, psychological, and social needs.” Sociology professor

Gerardo Lanuza from the University of the Philippines Diliman said that while mental

health problems and psychological adjustment are necessary part of schooling in a

highly competitive environment, “but under the pandemic, these problems will be

exacerbated and intensified due to the absence of a real community and the growing

isolation of kids from their peers who may be able to support them.”

This study is very important to all especially students who are currently

experiencing mental issues due to difficulties in academics, family home, or the new

system of education. The researchers wanted to help those students who are struggling

to cope up with the new normal since online classes are a big challenge for all students

as well as the teachers. The researchers wanted to study the mental health of students,

specifically, Grade 11 students during the COVID-19 pandemic to measure their status.

This study would benefit the researchers, students, family, teachers, and future

researchers. The benefit of this research is to help teenagers specifically the grade 11

students on maintaining their mental health status in a positive and peaceful life. They

will be informed and acquire additional knowledge from this study.

As a result of the global pandemic of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), the

Department of Education (DepEd) proposed online education at different levels to

prevent the spread of the disease. The abrupt transition from face-to-face classes to

online education causes student disruption. The purpose of this study is to determine

the mental health status of Grade 11 students of the University of the Immaculate

Conception (UIC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the general objective of

this study is to determine the experience of Grade 11 students with regard to their

mental health status during the crisis that people are currently facing. Specifically, the

objective of the proponents of this research is to identify the factors affecting the mental

health status of Grade 11 students in the midst of today’s pandemic, the COVID-19, and

how they manage issues related to the new normal learning system. Some students find

online education difficult to adapt compared to face-to-face learning. Hence, the second

objective of this study is to identify the positive and negative experiences of grade 11

students as part of their school's online education system and education system.

Finally, The persons who will benefit from this study are the researchers, students,

family, teachers, and future researchers. The benefit of this research is to help the

teenagers specifically the grade 11 students to reconnect themselves amidst the

COVID-19 pandemic. They will focus on their experiences and help themselves with

their mental health status. With this study, Parents would be aware of their responsibility

to maintain their children's mental health in a positive and peaceful life.

1. What is the mental state of the Grade 11 students during this lockdown due to

the COVID-19 pandemic?

1.1 How do you define your mental state?

1.2 What are the common mental health problems faced by students during

Pandemic?

1.3 How do you manage your mental health in this time of Pandemic?

1.4 Do you ask for some help from professionals? If not, how do you balance

your problems and academics?

2. As a student, how do you deal with your emotions?

1.1 Do you easily open up to your family or friends regarding your problems?

1.2 Do you deal with your problems alone?

3. What are the difficulties faced by the students during this pandemic lockdown?

1.1 How do you describe your struggles during Pandemic?

1.2 How do you overcome those struggles in this time of Pandemic?

1.3 Do you know some students who are also struggling with their academics

during this time of Pandemic?

1.4 What are your ideas to help those students who are having difficulties in their

academics during this Pandemic?

1.5 As a student, What do you think are ways to address your concerns to your

families and teachers?

Theoretical Lens
 This is rooted in Abramson's theory of Hopelessness (1978). The theory of

hopelessness was developed by Abramson and his colleagues in 1978. Their theory

states that there were three stages in individuals who were likely to suffer depression: it

could be internal or external, stable or unstable, and global to specific. They suggested

that a negative life event would result in them responding in a way that would put them

at risk of becoming depressed. This theory suggests that repeated adverse events and

unmanageable environments are regarded as inescapable, creating the fear of being

helpless (Liu et al.,2015). Moreover, oftentimes, teens experience depression. In the

theory of hopelessness, this suggests that they can experience anxiety and

helplessness as much as they are in a negative and uncontrollable setting. This theory

shows that a lot of students suffer from anxiety or depression that’s why it can lead

them to become hopeless. Some students can’t seek help from their families, friends, or

teachers due for some reasons. In extending the etiological chain of the theory of

hopelessness, Rose and Abramson (1992) claimed that negative childhood events,

such as maltreatment, could contribute to the development of this negative cognitive

style. Depression develops and increases sharply during adolescence. It is said that

highschool students are more likely to experience cognitive vulnerability which is a

stress aspect of Abramson’s hopelessness theory (Metalsky & Alloy 1989). An

individual’s mental state can be examined not only with the six inferential styles

(internal or external, stable or unstable, and global to specific) but also a test that will

determine and show the increase in symptoms of depression following negative life

events (Abela and Sarin 2002). Overall, the Theory of Hopelessness is an elaborated

etiological pathway to depression and suicide. In relation to the study, The Mental
Health Status of Grade 11 Students during Coronavirus Disease pandemic, Abramson’s

theory of Hopelessness will help determine the mental state of grade 11 students in

terms of examining factors of stress and depression such as the negative inferential

styles (internal or external, stable or unstable, and global to specific) as well as its

symptoms. The given theories will help the researchers determine factors that caused

the development of negative cognitive styles that shows the etiological pathway of said

life-events of the grade 11 students and their mental health status.

Definition of Terms

Stress is a feeling of emotion or physical tension that carries physical and mental

health risks, it will last for a long period of time but it depends on how we deal with it.

Anxiety is a build-up of stressful life situations such as online classes, work,

family disputes, and so on. It may lead to excessive nervousness, fear, apprehension,

and worry.

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being that

affects how we think, feel, and act.

Online Education, known as distance learning. It takes place over the Internet

and uses computer technology to conduct the learning session. The new system that

the government is implementing.

Depression is a significant mood disorder wherein people feel sad, lose interest

and anger. It is also a leading cause of disability.

Negative inferential styles are vulnerability factors for depression in

adolescence.