Page 163 - Ana Mlekuž in Igor Ž. Žagar, ur. • Raziskovanje v vzgoji in izobraževanju: Izobraževanje učiteljic in učiteljev za raziskovalno učenje in poučevanje. Ljubljana: Pedagoški inštitut, 2024. Digitalna knjižnica, Dissertationes 48

longitudinal analysis of covid-19 anxiety and mental well-being during lockdown ...
posttraumatic stress disorder once lockdown ended (González-Sanguino et
al., 2020). A decrease in anxiety and an increase in mental well-being was
also documented in the first weeks of lockdown in the UK (O’Connor et
al., 2020). The pattern of stability or change in different aspects of psycho-
logical functioning during pandemic thus probably depends on the time
points compared (e.g., pre- versus during, during versus post-; only during
pandemic/lockdown). Findings suggest that after an initial decrease in psy-
chological functioning, levels are either maintained or improve with time.

1.1 Protective factors
One of the known protective factors for mental well-being and anxiety is
emotional self-efficacy. Emotional self-efficacy is directly related to stress
management, since it is defined as the perceived ability to cope with nega-
tive emotions (Muris, 2002). It requires the self-appraisal of one’s emotional
competencies in the emotional regulation domain (Alessandri et al., 2015).
Emotional regulation is a challenge in times of intense stress such as pan-
demic (Gros & Munoz, 1995). Another frequently investigated protective
factor for mental well-being and anxiety is practising mindfulness. Mind-
fulness is an unbiased present-centred awareness, accompanied by states
of clarity and compassion (Kabat-Zinn, 2003). It can be cultivated by prac-
ticing the moment-to-moment awareness of objects, body sensations, and
emotions, and accepting them as they are, without judging or trying to
change them (Maloney et al., 2016). Mindfulness techniques usually focus
on the awareness of breathing or physical sensations in the body (e.g., body
scanning), so-called inner or meditation-based exercises, and sometimes
on the awareness of the body in movement (e.g., yoga, walking meditation),
so-called body or yoga-based exercises (Kabat-Zinn, 2003). Mindfulness,
meditation and body scanning support the self-regulation that is put to test
in times of extreme stress by enhancing subjective well-being and psycho-
logical resources (e.g., Dambrun et al., 2019). Practising mindfulness reduc-
es psychological stress and fosters stress resilience (Khouri et al., 2013). Zhu
et al. (2021) found evidence of practising mindfulness to be a protective fac-
tor in mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. We can therefore ex-
pect practicing mindfulness to play a role in COVID-19 anxiety and men-
tal well-being during the lockdown. It trains individuals to be present in
the moment, and thus not focusing on worries related to the future or past,
and at the same time promotes acceptance. Acceptance can be especially
important when facing a difficult life event that is not under one's control,

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