Examining the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on late-adolescent learners in the Western Cape, South Africa.

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted education in South Africa, yet quantitative investigations into its mental health impact among learners in late adolescence remain scarce. This study examined associations between COVID-19-related cognitive appraisals and psychological outcomes among late-adolescent learners (aged 18-19 years), a group navigating the transition to adulthood amid substantial educational and social uncertainty.

METHOD: A convenience sample of 239 late-adolescent learners (mean age = 18.13 years; 72% female) from seven public schools in informal and semi-urban communities in the Western Cape completed an online survey between March and August 2022. Standardised measures assessed symptoms of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol use, fear of COVID-19, perceived vulnerability to disease, and COVID-19-related worry.

RESULTS

High levels of psychological distress were observed within the sample: 59% reported clinically significant depressive symptoms, 39% severe anxiety, 35% clinically significant PTSD symptoms, and 13% alcohol use suggestive of dependence. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that fear of COVID-19 was a significant predictor of all four mental health outcomes (p < 0.001). Perceived vulnerability to disease independently predicted PTSD symptoms (p < 0.001) and alcohol use (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

These findings highlight the importance of school-based mental health interventions that target learners' cognitive appraisals of threat and vulnerability during periods of educational disruption, with implications for strengthening preparedness for future public health emergencies.