Page 177 - 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 ...
of the sample, while also trying to gather a more representative one, addi-
tionally allowing for the conjunction of the demographics with the models.

4.2 Conclusions
Findings show that COVID-19 anxiety decreased over four waves during
the first lockdown (in relatively stable restrictions), and no changes were
observed in mental well-being. Self-efficacy played an important protec-
tive role in COVID-19 anxiety, but practicing mindfulness was not related
to mental health. Considering the unique time of the COVID-19 pande-
mic and its link to mental health, the added value of our study is its lon-
gitudinal design, such as week to week changes in the positive and nega-
tive aspects of psychological functioning, COVID-19 anxiety and mental
well-being, during the lockdown. With relatively stable lockdown and re-
striction measures during data collection, we could focus more closely on
individual functioning without it being affected by major contextual chan-
ges. The present study is the first to analyse mental health during the CO-
VID-19 pandemic in Slovenia, using a longitudinal design. The findings are
relevant for future efforts to support better coping with the challenges of
the COVID-19 pandemic (or similar threats), also in the light of preventing
high suicidal ideation (e.g., O’Connor et al., 2020) and supporting the pro-
motion of emotional self-efficacy. This can be done as part of nationwide
prevention programs on mental health as well through integration of soci-
al and emotional competences in education. The pandemic has provided us
with important insights into the extent to which emotional competencies
are crucial, not only for our day-to-day well-being and mental health but
also to prepare us for the challenges of tomorrow.
The findings of this study are also important from the perspective of
teacher education, both initial and in-service, as it provides insights into
the importance of involving topics of social and emotional competences
(including emotional self-efficacy) in their education.

References

Alessandri, G., Vecchione, M., & Caprara, G. V. (2015). Assessment of regula-
tory emotional self-efficacy beliefs: a review of the status of the art and
some suggestions to move the field forward. Journal of Psychoeducation-
al Assessment, 33(1), 24–32. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734282914550382
Cilar, L., Barr, O., Štiglic, G., & Pajnkihar, M. (2019). Mental well-being
among nursing students in Slovenia and Northern Ireland: A survey.

177