Secondary Students’ Mental Well-Being after the Pandemic—An Analysis According to Location and Study Levels

Abstract

The study surveyed 1547 secondary school students’ mental health when they resumed in-person classes by examining the prevalence of depressive symptoms with the abridged Beck Depression Inventory II. Chi-square test found a significant association between location and depression levels, with a higher proportion of rural students reporting a higher depression level. One-way ANOVA detected significant differences within levels of secondary classes, where post hoc analysis found higher depressive levels with final year students. As schools prepare to transit from the pandemic to endemic phase, the study highlighted the specific students who need attention to tailor specific programmes to targeted groups and enhance resources efficiency.

Keywords

• secondary school students
• post-COVID schooling
• youth depression
• rural-urban students
• mental well-being
• final year students’ depression