Listing 1 - 1 of 1 |
Sort by
|
Choose an application
Future orientation (FO) is a consciously and self-reported image individuals have of their future. It is an important developmental task for adolescents and is related to mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown to have influenced the daily lives of adolescents. If FO is related to adolescents’ mental health during the pandemic, adolescents with mental health related symptoms or vulnerabilities may benefit from intervention on future oriented thoughts. This thesis therefore firstly researched what Flemish adolescents expected to be the most important event of the day during the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondly, the valence of these future oriented thoughts was measured. Lastly, the relation between the valence of the future oriented thoughts and depressive and anxiety symptoms was measured. A qualitative and quantitative data collection regarding mental health in a general adolescent population (n = 136) was done within the SIGMA study. Data was collected through baseline questionnaires and the Experience Sampling Method (ESM). Within the qualitative data, the most important anticipated events of the day were divided into three categories: school, free time and nothing. School was divided into studying, (online) classes and test or exam. Free time was divided into friends and family, relaxing, sports, food and student job. Answers that did not fit into any category were coded as miscellaneous. Free time was the category with the most answers, followed by school. The most frequently anticipated events were about studying and homework. When it comes to the valence of these events, 59.17% was positively oriented, 18.90% was neutral and 21.93% was negatively oriented. This predominantly positive FO is similar to what is found in literature prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Further on, higher symptoms of depression were significantly associated with less positive future orientation. The same was found for anxiety symptoms. This means that there is a significant relation between mental well-being and FO. Besides, being older was significantly associated with less positive future orientation and no significant gender effects were found. Though, FO has shown to be an important mechanism in mental well-being in adolescents and could potentially be important in interventions to create a mental health buffer.
Listing 1 - 1 of 1 |
Sort by
|