Anxiety and Its Associated Factors Among School-aged Adolescents in East Jakarta, Indonesia during the Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can be a significant psychological stressor which is associated with increased levels of anxiety and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. AIM: To determine adolescent anxiety prevalence and associated risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey was performed from February to April 2021 at SMPN 9, East Jakarta, on 304 adolescents. The subjects were examined using sociodemographic form and self-report measures of anxiety, COVID-19 knowledge, and physical activity. The statistical significance level was set at p ˂ 0.05. RESULTS: Median age was 14 years (range 12–16) and prevalence of anxiety 19.4%. Multivariable logistic regression findings: gender (adjusted odd ratio [aOR] = 2.50; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.26–4.98; p = 0.009), physical activity (aOR = 2.16; 95% CI = 1.15–4.06; p = 0.017;), knowledge level of COVID-19 (aOR = 1.81; 95% CI = 0.99–3.32; p = 0.053); age (aOR = 0.53; 95% CI = 0.19–1.46; p = 0.218); education (aOR = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.35–2.64; p = 0.932). Gender and physical activity were significantly associated with risk of adolescent anxiety. CONCLUSION: Inactive physical activity status increases the risk of adolescent anxiety. Governmental regulations are needed on the planning and implementation of a health education program for increasing physical activity among adolescents to improve physical and mental health. As a follow-up to this study, there is a need for conducting a study to determine changes in prevalence rates of adolescent anxiety during as well as after the pandemic and its associated risk factors with a better design study.