Startseite Assessment of anxiety in adolescents involved in a study abroad program: a prospective study
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Assessment of anxiety in adolescents involved in a study abroad program: a prospective study

  • Yulia Roitblat , Ryan Cleminson , Aaron Kavin , Edan Schonberger und Michael Shterenshis EMAIL logo
Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 23. November 2017

Abstract

Objective

The aim of the study was to measure the effects on levels of anxiety in healthy teenagers caused by a temporary change of country and school during a study abroad program.

Methods

In a prospective study we gathered the data from six anxiety level related tests on high school participants in a study abroad program (age 15–17, n = 364, M 172, F 192). These volunteer participants were divided into two separate groups: with self-reported elevated levels of anxiety (n = 111; YES-group) and with self-reported normal levels of anxiety (n = 253; NO-group). Two control groups of schoolchildren drawn from two local schools were used for comparison (n = 100 each). Three tests were subjective, i.e. self-fill-out tests. The next three tests were objective psychological or neurophysiological tests designed to estimate reflex control, concentration and a feeling for the passage of time.

Results

The initial mean anxiety level score among the 364 participants was 41.5 ± 16.7 (min 16, max 80) on 5–110 scale. For the YES-group the score was 56.5 ± 15.9, and for the NO-group the score was 34.7 ± 17.4 (p = 0.05). The retesting after they had been in the same place for 7 weeks revealed that the mean anxiety level score of the participants decreased to 37.4 ± 16.9 (min 15, max 72). For the YES-group the score significantly decreased to 39.3 ± 15.5, and for the NO-group the score slightly elevated to 36.7 ± 16.4 producing similar results for both groups (p = 0.81).

Conclusion

A temporary change of country and school at first results in a rise in anxiety levels in about one third of participants. However, after an extended stay it falls to normal levels.

Acknowledgments

The editing of the final version of the manuscript and technical writing support was provided by Paul Wasson (the UK). The authors thank Rachelle Sevitt, Dr. Jeoffrey P. Jacobs, Alex Lasky, Monica Singer,and Shlomo Sudai for assistance during the research.

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Received: 2017-06-14
Accepted: 2017-08-20
Published Online: 2017-11-23

©2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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