Sense of Coherence and Self-Rated Aggression of Adolescents during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic, with a Focus on the Effects of Animal Assisted Activities

Ákos Levente Tóth (), Zsuzsanna Kívés, Etelka Szovák, Réka Kresák, Sára Jeges, Bendegúz Kertai and Imre Zoltán Pelyva
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Ákos Levente Tóth: Institute of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, Faculty of Science, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
Zsuzsanna Kívés: Institute for Health Insurance, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, 7621 Pécs, Hungary
Etelka Szovák: Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, 7621 Pécs, Hungary
Réka Kresák: Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Szeged, 6722 Szeged, Hungary
Sára Jeges: Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, 7621 Pécs, Hungary
Bendegúz Kertai: Institute of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, Faculty of Science, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
Imre Zoltán Pelyva: Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, 7621 Pécs, Hungary

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused extreme deviations from everyday life. The aim of this study was to investigate how these deviations affected adolescents’ sense of coherence and their level of aggression, and whether this was influenced by their relationship with animals, especially horses. In two random samples of students from vocational schools in Hungary, taken in June 2018 and June 2020 (n1 = 525, n2 = 412), separate groups were drawn from those who had regularly engaged in equine-assisted activities (ES) and those who had not (OS) before the pandemic. Data were collected using an anonymous, paper-based questionnaire, and during the pandemic an online version of the Sense of Coherence (SOC13) and Bryant–Smith (B12) scales. During the pandemic, boys’ sense of coherence weakened and their aggressiveness increased. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that, regardless of gender and age group, increased time spent using the internet ( p < 0.001), a lack of classmates ( p = 0.017), reduced time spent outdoors ( p = 0.026) and reduced physical activity ( p < 0.038) during the pandemic significantly increased the tendency for aggressive behavior, whereas being with a horse or pet was beneficial ( p < 0.001). The changes imposed by the curfew were rated as bad by 90% of the pupils, however, those with a strong sense of coherence felt less negatively about them. Schools should place a great emphasis on strengthening the students’ sense of coherence.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; sense of coherence; aggression; animal assisted activities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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