Anxiety and school phobia among middle school students in post-COVID-19 in Malta : perspectives of the psychosocial team

Abstract

This study aims to explore the perspectives of professionals within a school’s psycho social team on the prevalence, experience and challenges of supporting and dealing with middle school students with elevated anxiety and school phobia in post-COVID-19 times. Despite this being the second year since COVID-19 restrictions were eased and eventually removed, there are still some students who find it very difficult to be reintegrated into middle school life after having experienced remote or hybrid modes of teaching and learning. Moreover, through this study, the notions of student participation and student voice in decision-making processes related to their absenteeism and challenges pertaining to their anxiety-related behaviours and manifestations are illustrated through the perspectives of these professional adults. This qualitative research was conducted using in-depth semi structured interviews. A thematic analysis from the yielded data transpired three themes, namely, (i) “Perspectives of the psychosocial team during and post-COVID 19 regarding education in Malta”; (ii) "The link between school anxiety and school phobia with hybrid learning during and post-COVID 19”; and (iii) “Psychosocial interventions with the student and parents following difficulties during and post-COVID 19”. In this study, the re-integration of students with long school absences and support available were also explored. Students and their well-being were the focus of this study.