Does the Covid-19 lockdown affect pain and anxiety in high school seniors and high school graduates preparing for the university exam?

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate whether the Covid-19 lockdown affect pain, exam anxiety and general anxiety in students preparing for university exam. A total of 364 students were divided into groups as high school seniors (HS, n = 241) and high school graduates (HG, n = 123). Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for neck and low-back pain, Beck Anxiety Inventory for general anxiety, Exam Anxiety Scale (EAS) for exam anxiety were used. Both groups showed high level of exam anxiety and generalized anxiety (p < .05). After Covid-19, neck and low-back pain rates, and VAS pain scores of both groups increased (p < .05). Neck pain before Covid-19 and neck and low-back pain after Covid-19 were higher in female students than males (p < .05). The Covid-19 lockdown negatively affected the neck and low-back pain level, exam anxiety and general anxiety of both HS and high school graduate students. We suggest that community healthcare services should regard physiotherapy and rehabilitation interventions to treat students with neck and low-back pain via exercise strategies. Psychological and emotional support also could be provided to reduce students' general anxiety and exam anxiety. Future studies should establish the consider menstrual cycle status in female students, and the computer-using time of students.