Predicting Change in School Engagement during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the lives of children, their families, and the education system at large. In schools, the actions taken in response to the pandemic affected what teaching methods were available, limited social interaction, and had a negative impact on student attendance levels (whether online or at school). As these factors are closely related to school engagement, this study wanted to explore which students reported a change in school engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether previously identified risk factors played a part. A survey was carried out in the spring of 2021 in 15 Finnish middle schools (N = 1788, age 11 to 18). The results of this study indicate that, while most students reported no change in their level of school engagement, some of the students identified as especially vulnerable, for instance students with depression or anxiety, did indeed report lower levels of engagement when compared to their peers.

Covid-19 pandemin orsakade avbrott i vardagen för barn, deras familjer och utbildningssystemet. Skolor vidtog åtgärder som påverkade undervisningsmetoderna, begränsade social interaktion och hade en negativ effekt på elevers närvaro i skolan under pandemin. Eftersom samtliga faktorer tangerar skolengagemang ville vi genom den här studien undersöka vilka elever som rapporterade en förändring i skolengagemang under Covid-19 pandemin, samt undersöka om tidigare identifierade riskfaktorer spelade en roll. Under våren 2021 deltog elever från 15 finska grundskolor (N = 1788, i åldrarna 11-18) i en enkätstudie. Resultaten indikerar att även om majoriteten av eleverna inte rapporterade förändringar i sitt skolengagemang så var en del elever, exempelvis elever med depression eller ångest, var särskilt sårbara för minskat skolengagemang under Covid-19 pandemin i jämförelse med sina jämnåriga.