Experience of Ethnic Discrimination, Anxiety, Perceived Risk of COVID-19, and Social Support among Polish and International Students during the Pandemic
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Published:2023-03-23
Issue:7
Volume:20
Page:5236
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ISSN:1660-4601
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Container-title:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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language:en
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Short-container-title:IJERPH
Author:
Bokszczanin Anna1ORCID, Gladysh Olga2, Bronowicka Anna1, Palace Marek3ORCID
Affiliation:
1. Institute of Psychology, University of Opole, 45-052 Opole, Poland 2. Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 03-378 Warsaw, Poland 3. School of Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3-5UG, UK
Abstract
Background: Our research aimed to assess the experiences of ethnic discrimination among students in Poland (Polish and international) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also tested the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and their relationship with perceived COVID-19 risk, the severity of discrimination, and social support. Methods: The data from Polish (n = 481) and international university students (n = 105) were collected online (November–January 2020). Participants completed measures of ethnic discrimination (GEDS), anxiety scale (GAD-7), COVID-19 risk perception index, and perceived social support scale (MSPSS) questionnaires. Results: The results showed that international students reported being much more discriminated than Polish students during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Contrary to our expectation, a higher risk of anxiety disorders (GAD) was observed in 42% of Polish students compared to 31% of international students. The predictors of higher anxiety symptoms among both groups were the perceived risk of COVID-19 and the greater severity of ethnic discrimination. In both groups, the perceived social support had a protective role in anxiety symptomatology. Conclusions: The high prevalence of discrimination, especially among international students, simultaneously with high symptoms of anxiety, requires vigorous action involving preventive measures and psychological support.
Subject
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
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