Sense of Self-Efficacy and Helplessness Among Students of Higher Grades of Primary School During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Learning in unknown circumstances is a great challenge for young people, particularly those who lack the ability to regulate their emotions. This text presents the results of research on the image of the life of students in higher grades of primary school, measured by the sense of self-efficacy and the sense of helplessness. The research was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic among 303 students. It was found that (1) students rather express their belief in their own effectiveness (agency), and, at the same time, (2) half of the students indicated the feeling of helplessness; (3) helplessness is significantly higher among girls; (4) in the case of girls, there is a clear and strong negative relation between the sense of effectiveness and the helplessness.

Adolescent volunteering in Poland – contextual and individual determinants

“…This result seems to confirm that during the period of early adolescence (14-15), self-perceptions (e.g. self-efficacy, absence of the feeling of helplessness) are of great importance for positive psychosocial adaptation [43] and well-being [44]. Positive self-evaluation (including the belief in self-efficacy and the absence of the feeling of helplessness) is viewed as a resource conducive to successful adaptation during adolescence.…”

“…During the period of early adolescence, self-perceptions (e.g. selfefficacy, absence of the feeling of helplessness) are of great importance for positive psycho-social adaptation and wellbeing [43,44].…”

“…Following the theory of subjective disposition, extraversion was taken into account because it has been confirmed that a high level of extraversion is associated with various forms of volunteering [41]. In addition, taking into account the tremendous role of self-perceptions in the period of early adolescence [43,44,45], self-efficacy and the feeling of helplessness were considered. Therefore, it was expected that: H.6.…”

Incidence of Emotional Disorder Symptoms and Emotional Intelligence in Slovak Secondary School Students Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The most severe causes included several quarantine measures, such as the closure of schools and leisure facilities, restriction of outdoor movement, separation from loved ones, absolute change in the daily regiment, uncertainty, overwhelming negative news from the media, etc. (Tłuściak-Deliowska, 2022). The increase in emotional disorders arising in adolescence is crucial because they tend to persist throughout adult life (Blakemore, 2019).…”