Linking COVID-19-Related Awareness and Anxiety as Determinants of Coping Strategies’ Utilization among Senior High School Teachers in Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana

John Elvis Hagan, Frank Quansah, Francis Ankomah, Edmond Kwesi Agormedah, Medina Srem-Sai, James Boadu Frimpong and Thomas Schack
Additional contact information
John Elvis Hagan: Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast P.O. Box 5007, Ghana
Frank Quansah: Department of Educational Foundations, University of Education, Winneba, Winneba P.O. Box 25, Ghana
Francis Ankomah: Department of Education and Psychology, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast P.O. Box 5007, Ghana
Edmond Kwesi Agormedah: Department of Business and Social Sciences Education, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast P.O. Box 5007, Ghana
Medina Srem-Sai: Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Sport, University of Education, Winneba, Winneba P.O. Box 25, Ghana
James Boadu Frimpong: Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast P.O. Box 5007, Ghana
Thomas Schack: Neurocognition and Action Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Sports Science, Bielefeld University, Postfach 10 01 31, D-33501 Bielefeld, Germany

Social Sciences, 2022, vol. 11, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: Cognitive-behavioral coping among teachers is an important issue of investigation due to the reported high prevalence of anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas several studies have assessed COVID-19 awareness of individuals as a predictor of anxiety, the moderating role of awareness in anxiety and coping mechanisms remains unclear. The study primarily examined the nexus between awareness of COVID-19 and (a) anxiety and (b) coping strategies, including the interaction effect of COVID-19-related awareness in the link between anxiety and coping strategies among senior high school teachers. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted to conveniently select 184 teachers from senior high schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Questionnaires were administered to the participants and data were analyzed with means, standard deviation, Pearson correlation, and linear regression statistical procedures. Summarily, the results revealed a negative relationship between COVID-19 awareness and anxiety levels of teachers. COVID-19-related anxiety significantly predicted coping mechanisms of teachers. Further, COVID-19 awareness significantly moderated the relationship between anxiety and coping strategies adopted. These findings imply that the public health education and mass awareness campaign programs on COVID-19 could act as buffers against the spread of COVID-19, its associated comorbidities, and help improve the mental health of teachers. Promoting adaptation to COVID-19 through the use of functional management strategies such as active coping and emotional support should be encouraged in the Cape Coast Metropolis among teachers.

Keywords: active coping; anxiety; behavior disengagement; emotional support; religious coping; senior high school; teachers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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