CHAPTER 1

The Problem and Its Background

Introduction

This study is about the spread of the new coronavirus

disease and a global pandemic outbreak in March 2020, which

will also result in an unpredictable lockdown of national

economies and social distancing restrictions, with far-

reaching economic, social, and educational impacts.

Educational institutions have resulted in a shift from

regular to online learning modes, which has completely

changed studying and working patterns.

Students have been identified as a vulnerable population

that suffers from considerable levels of stress, anxiety, and

despair, which negatively impact their mental health. Prior

to the pandemic, one in every five college students in the

world had one or more diagnosable mental problems. The

academic years are seen as critical in laying the groundwork

for beneficial health practices that promote well-being into

adulthood. Young people confront a number of problems and are

exposed to major dangers that impact their health state

throughout this stage of life. Changes in the home, greater

responsibilities, peer pressure, learning, and job schedule

are all causes of psychological problems such as stress,

sadness, and anxiety. With years of budget cuts and an

inability to satisfy fundamental student needs, these same

pupils are even more susceptible to such a crisis, and

existing research reveals that students from lower

socioeconomic backgrounds are disproportionately affected.

With the recent literature on the psychological and

mental health effects of the pandemic among students, and

because the National Capital Region was one of the regions in

the Philippines most severely affected by the COVID-19

outbreak, students in this area may have been at a higher

risk of severe mental health issues. This study aimed to

determine the socio-demographic and living conditions

associated with impaired mental health among students at

Araullo High School during the first COVID-19 lockdown in the

Philippines in order to evaluate students' self-perceived

mental health and understand their needs in order to develop

appropriate responses.

Theoretical Framework

The theory that is considered in this study is the

motivation theory by Burner (2011). According to Bruner the

lack of motivation of the students to learn is often said to

be the problem for students.

The motivation theory hereby concentrates on the

individual’s reasons of Psychological effects and the

conditions under which motivation is maximized. It is said

that adequate motivation sets in motion for the activity which

results to their psychological and sustains psychological as

well. It is a challenge for the teachers and parents to

understand the students’ eagerness and reluctance to learn in

the midst of Pandemic.

Another theory that is put into consideration in this

study is The Transactional Model of Stress and Coping,

proposed by Lazarus and Folkman (1984), contended that a

person's capacity to cope and adjust to challenges and

problems is a consequence of transactions (or interactions)

that occur between a person and their environment. From

journals.plos.org research article (2021), Epidemics such as

COVID-19 and corresponding containment measures are assumed

to cause psychological stress. In a survey during the lockdown

in Switzerland (n = 1565), we found substantially increased

levels of stress in the population. In particular,

individuals who did not agree with the containment measures,

as well as those who saw nothing positive in the crisis,

experienced high levels of stress. The psychological

mechanisms that determine stress, caused by the COVID-19

pandemic and containment measures, are not yet clear.

The theory explains that the person’s capacity to cope

with stress is based on the transactions or interactions that

 occurs in that person’s life. Those who did not agree with

the containment measures to prevent the virus from spreading

and those who did not see any positivity in the crisis has

increased and experienced high level of stress.

Conceptual Framework
The primary purpose of this study is to assess the

effects of the Covid-19 pandemic to the psychological state

of grade 12 students of Manuel G. Araullo High School

The conceptual model which guides this study follows the

INPUT, PROCESS, and OUTPUT which is shown in figure 1.

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

• Result of the • Assessment
survey by the
questionnaires Grade 12
Students’
• Effects of
pandemic to
psychological
state of
0students
• Statistica • Thesis/
• Respondents of l treatment Manuscript
the study of data

• Manuel G.
Araullo
Highschool
Grade 12 • Analysis
Students and
interpreta
• Different tion of
related data
studies

Figure 1. Conceptual Framework of the Study

 INPUT consists of the results of the survey

questionnaire, the Respondents of the study and the effects

of the pandemic to the psychological state of the

students.

The PROCESS consists of data gathering using survey

questionnaires and statistical analysis and

interpretation.

The OUTPUT of the study is the thesis/manuscript

composed of chapter 1-3.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine The effects of the pandemic

in the psychological state of Grade 12 and determine all the

different factors associated with the general experiences of

Grade 12 During the Pandemic.

More specifically, the study sought answers to the

following questions.

1. What are the main factors to be considered in

Psychological State of Grade 12 students?

2. Is there a significant relationship between the age

of the respondents and their Psychological

Thinking?

3. How effective is having a strong psychological

state in the past pandemic?
Hypothesis of the Study

The expected outcome of this study are knowing the

factors of the psychological state of grade 12 students and

how the pandemic affected it.

Scope and Limitation of the Study

The focus of this study is to identify the effects of

the pandemic in the psychological state of grade 12 students

in Manuel G. Araullo High School. This research will tackle

the different perspectives of the grade 12 students related

to their experiences during pandemic and after pandemic. The

researchers will be assessing the grade 12 students to find

out the effects of the pandemic to their Psychological well-

being in terms of their way of thinking and their behavior.

This study is limited only to respondents that are grade

12 students including all strands that is available in Manuel

G. Araullo High School, which are STEM, HUMSS, ABM, GAS, and

TECH – VOC strand.

Significance of the Study

This study demonstrates the possible psychological

impact of the pandemic on academic performance or status at

Grade 12 Manuel G. Araullo High School Students. The result

of the study will benefit the following:

 Students. Awareness of these impacts will help students

cope or find ways to address them. In this way, they will be

able to address their academic responsibilities and improve

their academic standing. Correspondingly, students will be

able to help fellow students who are experiencing similar

problems

Parents. Understanding the psychological impact of the

pandemic on children will help them understand the different

ways counseling or helping them overcome these issues

Teachers. Understanding the impact of the pandemic on

students will help teachers focus on finding ways to address

different issues related to student achievement.

Additionally, teachers will be able to work with parents to

help students.

Definition of Terms

Throughout this research, In order to assure that all

readers are interpreting these terms in the same manner as

the Committee intended the following definitions are offered.

Anxiety - It is more related with muscular tension and

avoidance behavior in anticipation of a future issue. Fear is

an emotional reaction to an impending threat and is more

connected with a fight or flight response - either staying to

fight or fleeing to avoid harm.

 Far-reaching - Its incidence among growing segments of

the workforce, alongside the recent era of severe economic

upheaval, has increased attention to the effects of job loss

and unemployment

Mental Health - Our emotional, psychological, and social

well-being are all included. It has an impact on how we think,

feel, and act. It also influences how we deal with stress,

interact with people, and make good decisions.

Outbreak - An outbreak is defined as more cases of a

disease than expected in a specific location over a specific

time period.

Psychological - as the topic of psychology, relating to

the mind or mental phenomenon.

Socio-demographic - Characteristics of a population.

Generally, characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity,

education level, income, type of client, years of experience,

location, etc.

Vulnerable - It signals mindfulness for researchers and

research ethics boards to the possibility that some

participants may be at higher risk of harm or wrong.

REFERENCE:

Bruner (1966) Learning Theory in Education. was concerned

with how knowledge is represented and organized through
different modes of thinking (or representation).
https://www.simplypsychology.org/bruner.html?fbclid=IwAR35R
QF3TiLlKEPma-RXTC5La67QrjgFFu2rSWFyl4Vu-lZ5vEPI97Z3KtM

Transactional Model. (2022) Science Direct. Retrieved from:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/transaction
al-
model#:~:text=The%20Transactional%20Model%20of%20Stress,a%2
0person%20and%20their%20environment.

Wissmath B., Mast F., Kraus F., & Weibel D. ( July 29,
2021). Understanding the psychological impact of the COVID-
19 pandemic and containment measures: An empirical model of
stress. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34324498/

Wilczewski, M. (2021). The Psychological and Academic

Effects of Studying From the Home and Host Country During
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2022, from
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.644
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October 24, 2022, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3127276/

Bracken-Roche, D. (2017, February 7). The concept of

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Cambridge Dictionary. (2022, October 19). far-reaching
meaning: 1. Something far-reaching has a great influence on
many people or things: 2. Something. . .. Learn more.
Retrieved October 24, 2022, from
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/far-
reaching

Dobronte, A. (2016, December 8). The importance of socio-

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