Perceived Stressand Future Career Anxiety Among College Students of District Nowshera Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Adolescents' mental health was significantly and profoundly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, adolescents had higher levels of emotional issues, such as stress, fear, and anxiety. This study was the first to investigate the connections between college students' emotional issues, perceived stress, and anxiety of COVID-19. Adolescents' fear of COVID-19, felt stress, and emotional difficulties were measured using a cross-sectional survey using standardised questionnaires. The results showed that fear of COVID-19 positively predicted perceived stress, and that perceived stress also predicted emotional problems. Additionally, emotional problems and fear of COVID-19 were mediated by perceived stress, suggesting that fear of COVID-19 indirectly influenced emotional issues associated with perceived stress. There were also notable gender differences, with women reporting higher levels of perceived stress, emotional issues generally, and dread of COVID-19 than men. These findings are important for two reasons: first, in order to help students manage their stress, mental health interventions for adolescents should specifically target pandemic-related fears and future fears; and second, schools, mental health professionals, and policy initiatives should concentrate on strategies and programs for adolescent mental well-being during the post-pandemic recovery phase.