Prevladavanje usamljenosti tokom pandemije u populaciji studenata specijalne edukacije i rehabilitacije

Abstract

Mere zaštite od širenja pandemije COVID - 19 značajno su izmenile svakodnevnicu studenata. Prilike za socijalnu interakciju sa vršnjacima i porodicom dramatično su redukovane, a prolongirani period socijalne izolacije mnogima je predstavljao stres i pokrenuo intenzivan emocionalni odgovor. Cilj aktuelne studije je istraživanje prediktivne uloge strategija prevladavanja stresa u doživljavanju usamljenosti tokom pandemije COVID-19. Učesnice u ovom onlajn istraživanju bile su studentkinje osnovnih studija specijalne edukacije i rehabilitacije (N=222) na Univerzitetu u Beogradu. Usamljenost je procenjena Revidiranom skalom usamljenosti (Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale). Podaci o primeni uobičajenih adaptivnih i maladaptivnih strategija prevladavanja stresa dobijeni su putem inventara COPE (pozitivna reinterpretacija i rast, mentalno povlačenje, ventiliranje osećanja, instrumentalna socijalna podrška, aktivno suočavanje, poricanje, suočavanje kroz religiju, humor, bihevioralno povlačenje, suzdržavanje, emocionalna socijalna podrška, korišćenje supstanci, prihvatanje, supresija and planiranje). Podaci su prikupljeni tokom decembra 2020. godine., kada je epidemiološka situacija u Srbiji bila izuzetno nepovoljna. Linearni regresioni model sa strategijama prevladavanja kao prediktorskim varijablama i usamljenošću kao kriterijumskom varijablom objašnjava oko 25% varijanse (F(15, 206)=4,674, p < .001). Emocionalna socijalna podrška najsnažnije predviđa usamljenost, i to negativno (β=-.491, p < .001), dok su ostali statistički značajni prediktori u pozitivnoj vezi sa kriterijumskom varijablom: preusmeravanje ponašanja (β=.147, p < .05), suzdržavanje (β=.180, p < .01), instrumentalna društvena podrška (β=.190, p < .05) i korišćenje supstanci (β=.143, p < .05). Rezultati ukazuju na značaj emocionalne društvene podrške u smanjenju doživljaja usamljenosti studenata, ali i na strategije prevladavanja stresa koje su se na uzorku studenata pokazale kao povezane sa usamljenošću. Prikazani nalazi mogu biti od značaja kako za obrazovanje studenata specijalne edukacije i rehabilitacije, tako i za razvijanje programa za njihovo psihološko osnaživanje i pripremu za rad tokom kriza poput pandemije.

Protective measures against the spread of the COVID - 19 pandemic have significantly changed the daily lives of students. Opportunities for social interaction with peers and family were dramatically reduced, and the prolonged period of social isolation was stressful for many and triggered an intense emotional response. The aim of the current study is to investigate the predictive role of stress coping strategies in experiencing loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants in this online research were special education and rehabilitation students (N = 222) at the University of Belgrade. Loneliness was assessed by the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. Data on the application of common adaptive and maladaptive strategies for coping with stress were obtained through the COPE inventory (positive reinterpretation and growth, mental disengagement, venting emotions, instrumental social support, active coping, denial, religious coping, humor, behavioral disengagement, restraint, emotional social support, substance use, acceptance, suppression of competing activities and planning). The data was collected during December 2020, when the epidemiological situation in Serbia was extremely unfavorable. The linear regression model with coping strategies as predictor variables and loneliness as a criterion variable explains about 25% of the variance (F (15, 206) = 4,674, p <.001). Emotional social support negatively predicts loneliness, (β = -. 491, p <.001), while other statistically significant predictors are positively related to the criterion variable: behavioral disengagement (β = .147, p <.05), restraint (β = .180, p <.01), instrumental social support (β = .190, p <.05) and substance use (β = .143, p <.05). The results indicate the importance of emotional social support in reducing the experience of student loneliness, but also the strategies for overcoming stress, which in the sample of students proved to be associated with loneliness. The presented findings can be important for the education of special education and rehabilitation students, as well as for the development of programs for their psychological empowerment and preparation for work during crises such as pandemics.