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.
References
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©2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Original Articles
- Associations between body weight status, psychological well-being and disordered eating with intuitive eating among Malaysian undergraduate university students
- Using the Internet to access health-related information: results from a nationally representative sample of New Zealand secondary school students
- Differences and similarities in medicine use, perceptions and sharing among adolescents in two different educational settings
- Disparities in obesity prevalence and obesity-related behaviors among adolescents in Trinidad and Tobago
- Decreasing screen time and/or increasing exercise only helps in certain situations for young adults
- Assessment of anxiety in adolescents involved in a study abroad program: a prospective study
- Assessment of health literacy with the Newest Vital Sign and its correlation with body mass index in female adolescent students
- Causative factors for sexual and reproductive health status of pregnant adolescent girls in urban communities of Lagos, Nigeria
- A comparison of positive youth development against depression and suicidal ideation in youth from Hong Kong and the Netherlands
- Using theory of planned behavior for prediction of delivery mode among pregnant women: a theory-based cross-sectional research
- Relationships between metabolic profile, hypertension and uric acid with cardiometabolic risk in adolescents with abdominal obesity: impact of geodemographic factors on the prevalence of abdominal obesity
- Increased risk of sadness and suicidality among victims of bullying experiencing additional threats to physical safety
- Association between sleep quality and quality of life among students: a cross sectional study
- Menstrual irregularity and use of oral contraceptives in female adolescent athletes in Swedish National Sports High Schools
- Exploration of brushing behavior among university students in Iran: a qualitative research
- Vigorous physical activity, perceived stress, sleep and mental health among university students from 23 low- and middle-income countries
- Cross-sectional comparison of age-related changes in the quadriceps femoris in Japanese basketball players
- Knowledge, attitude and practice towards eating and physical activity among primary school children in Brunei: a cross-sectional study
Articles in the same Issue
- Original Articles
- Associations between body weight status, psychological well-being and disordered eating with intuitive eating among Malaysian undergraduate university students
- Using the Internet to access health-related information: results from a nationally representative sample of New Zealand secondary school students
- Differences and similarities in medicine use, perceptions and sharing among adolescents in two different educational settings
- Disparities in obesity prevalence and obesity-related behaviors among adolescents in Trinidad and Tobago
- Decreasing screen time and/or increasing exercise only helps in certain situations for young adults
- Assessment of anxiety in adolescents involved in a study abroad program: a prospective study
- Assessment of health literacy with the Newest Vital Sign and its correlation with body mass index in female adolescent students
- Causative factors for sexual and reproductive health status of pregnant adolescent girls in urban communities of Lagos, Nigeria
- A comparison of positive youth development against depression and suicidal ideation in youth from Hong Kong and the Netherlands
- Using theory of planned behavior for prediction of delivery mode among pregnant women: a theory-based cross-sectional research
- Relationships between metabolic profile, hypertension and uric acid with cardiometabolic risk in adolescents with abdominal obesity: impact of geodemographic factors on the prevalence of abdominal obesity
- Increased risk of sadness and suicidality among victims of bullying experiencing additional threats to physical safety
- Association between sleep quality and quality of life among students: a cross sectional study
- Menstrual irregularity and use of oral contraceptives in female adolescent athletes in Swedish National Sports High Schools
- Exploration of brushing behavior among university students in Iran: a qualitative research
- Vigorous physical activity, perceived stress, sleep and mental health among university students from 23 low- and middle-income countries
- Cross-sectional comparison of age-related changes in the quadriceps femoris in Japanese basketball players
- Knowledge, attitude and practice towards eating and physical activity among primary school children in Brunei: a cross-sectional study