Social Support and Self Efficacy as Predictors of Covid-19 Anxiety among Undergraduates
This study investigated social support and self- efficacy as predictors of covid-19 anxiety among undergraduates. Two hundred and twenty-eight (228) participants comprising 106 males and 123 females participated in the study. Participants were randomly selected from faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Ebonyi State University. Their age ranged between 15-19 years with a mean age of 1.56 years (SD = .52). Two hypotheses were formulated for this study. Three instrument were used which include Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), General Self-Efficacy Scale and Coronavirus Anxiety Scale. Cross sectional design was adopted. Regression result indicated that social support (β = .05, t=.68) did not significantly predict covid-19 anxiety among undergraduates. Self-efficacy (β = -.12, t=-1.71) did not significantly predict covid-19 anxiety among undergraduates. The possible implications from the results of the present study; social support did not significantly predict covid-19 anxiety among undergraduates. This implies that the possible support from parents, teachers, and the government on their children or students do not reduce anxiety or fear of the virus on them because of the risk factors involved in contacting the virus such as handshake between two persons, coughing and sneezing without covering your nose and mouth with your elbow within a group of people, touching an infected surface, and irregular washing of hands with soap and water or sanitizing of hands. Also of the study were stated and suggestion made for further studies.