Anxiety of Teachers in Face-to-Face Reopening of Class During the Covid-19 Pandemic

AUTHOR(S)

MARICEL Q. IDO

ABSTRACT

—— After the state of emergency due to the pandemic was lifted, schools have reopened, and teachers are conducting face-to-face classes while maintaining safety precautions. This study aimed to assess the factors contributing to infection-related anxiety and educational anxiety among teachers conducting face-to-face classes during the COVID-19 pandemic after schools reopened. This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 30 elementary school teachers. The questionnaire assessed the factors contributing to infection-related anxiety and educational anxiety that arose from the pandemic. The levels of anxiety and the factors contributing to anxiety were assessed using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very anxious). In an analysis of the data of 30 participants excluding the missing data, many teachers reported feeling infection- and education-related anxiety. A stepwise multiple regression analysis identified six factors for infection-related anxiety as significant. Among these variables, the largest partial regression coefficient value was reported for the following reason: “I feel anxious because we cannot ensure the safety of teachers themselves or of their families.” For educational anxiety, four of six reasons were identified as significant. Among these, “anxiety about the students’ home situations” and “delay in education (students’ side)” had stronger associations with anxiety compared to the others. In-person education during the COVID-19 pandemic has caused teachers to experience anxiety. This report provides useful information by highlighting the reasons for infection-related anxiety and educational anxiety that teachers experience in face-to-face classes during a pandemic. Even if the coverage of a COVID-19 vaccine becomes widespread worldwide, we will still be combating COVID-19 infections for at least a few years. Given concerns regarding such infections, to ensure students’ right to education, it is essential to understand why teachers feel anxious and to determine appropriate measures to decrease such anxiety. Keywords — COVID-19, Teachers, Factors of Anxiety, Face-To-Face Classes, School Reopening