Adolescents’ Perception, Practice and Coping Strategies during COVID-19 Pandemic in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

COVID-19 is perceived as a major threat to public health and a danger to the economy globally, affecting people’s lives by influencing their everyday behaviour and causing feelings of panic anxiety, depression, and often triggering intense fear. The study was aimed at determining the perception, practice and coping strategies of adolescents in Rivers state, Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adolescent via an online Google doc questionnaire administered through WhatsApp instant messaging and about 200 responses were received within two month. About (45%) were middle adolescent (14-16 years), 52% were females, 74% in secondary school and 64% from monogamous family. Majority (66%) believed in the existence COVID-19, 36% of the adolescents perceived it was a deadly disease, 17% said it was a pandemic, 18% reported is a deadly virus that kills people fast and 6% said is a disease that ruined the whole world. About 54% were worried and perceived they might be infected with coronavirus.  Majority (94%) practiced one or more forms of COVID-19 preventive practices. Following the coping strategies, majority of the adolescents used more of emotion-focused way of coping than problem-focused way of coping. The male gender used more of problem focused way of coping than the female gender. Findings of this research are useful to better understand the coping strategies utilized by adolescents and help formulate intervention strategies to tackle various psychosocial problems during COVID-19 among adolescents.