ABSTRACT
It is very important to show awareness in order to reduce the health risks posed by pandemics. In Turkey, primary and secondary schools, which were kept closed until September 2021 due to COVID-19, were reopened and students were expected to show awareness to avoid contamination. Therefore, it became even more important to reveal the awareness level of these students. In this study, it was aimed to develop a tool that could measure the awareness of the pandemic in general, and the awareness of COVID-19 in particular, of 8-12 year-old students. For this purpose, the data of the study were obtained during the period when primary and secondary schools in Turkey started face-to-face education (15 September 2021-15 October 2021). The data of the study were gathered from 466 primary (3rd and 4th grades) and secondary school (5th, 6th and 7th grades) students studying in different cities (13 cities) of Turkey, districts and villages of these city centers. The data were randomly divided into two equal data sets. Parallel and exploratory factor analysis were performed with the first data set. As a result of analysis, a single factor model with 12-item was obtained that explained approximately 44% of the variances. This model was tested with confirmatory factor analysis using the second data set. As a result of the tests, it was found that the model fitted well (RMSEA = 0.073, SRMR = 0.050, CFI = 0.93, TLI = 0.91 and GFI = 0.93) and a tool Pandemic Awareness Scale (PAS) was reached. In addition, it was seen that the scale showed measurement invariance in terms of gender, and partial measurement invariance according to school type. It was found that the reliability of the scores obtained from the scale was high. With this scale, COVID-19 awareness of students aged 8-12 could be measured, as well as the awareness of the same age group in pandemics with similar characteristics.
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to analyze the risk and protective factors affecting the COVID-19 anxiety of primary school students after the reopening. It was investigated how primary school students' parents' vaccination, and COVID-19 cases seen at school, knowledge and awareness directly or indirectly explained their individual and social COVID-19 anxiety. The data were obtained from 227 primary school students living in different regions of Turkey. Pandemic Awareness Scale, Pandemic Anxiety Scale, Pandemic Information Test and Information Form were used to obtain the data. The data were analyzed by path analysis. According to the results, the case seen at school, knowledge and awareness of COVID-19 directly and significantly predicted primary school students' individual and social COVID-19 anxiety. Vaccination of parents, on the other hand, directly significantly predicted social COVID-19 anxiety of primary school students, but did not significantly predict individual COVID-19 anxiety. In addition, in this effect, awareness of COVID-19 mediates the knowledge of COVID-19, and cases seen at school mediate the vaccination of parents. The obtained model showed a good fit. According to the results, primary school students' knowledge and awareness about COVID-19 and parents' vaccination reduced their anxieties, and COVID-19 cases seen at school increased their anxiety.
