Bokszczanin, A, Gladysh, O, Bronowicka, A and Palace, M (2023) Experience of Ethnic Discrimination, Anxiety, Perceived Risk of COVID-19, and Social Support among Polish and International Students during the Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20 (7). ISSN 1660-4601

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Abstract

Background:
Our research aimed to assess the experiences of ethnic discrimination among students in Poland (Polish and international) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also tested the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and their relationship with perceived COVID-19 risk, the severity of discrimination, and social support.
Methods:
The data from Polish (n = 481) and international university students (n = 105) were collected online (November–January 2020). Participants completed measures of ethnic discrimination (GEDS), anxiety scale (GAD-7), COVID-19 risk perception index, and perceived social support scale (MSPSS) questionnaires.
Results:
The results showed that international students reported being much more discriminated than Polish students during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Contrary to our expectation, a higher risk of anxiety disorders (GAD) was observed in 42% of Polish students compared to 31% of international students. The predictors of
higher anxiety symptoms among both groups were the perceived risk of COVID-19 and the greater severity of ethnic discrimination. In both groups, the perceived social support had a protective role in anxiety symptomatology.
Conclusions:
The high prevalence of discrimination, especially among international students, simultaneously with high symptoms of anxiety, requires vigorous action involving preventive measures and psychological support.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Toxicology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	MDPI AG
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	05 Apr 2023 09:29
Last Modified:	21 Sep 2023 13:00
DOI or ID number:	10.3390/ijerph20075236
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/19114

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