Table 3 Thematic Analysis of Student Concerns about COVID-19
From: Student interest, concerns, and information-seeking behaviors related to COVID-19
Theme | Description | Exemplar Response | Percentage of Total Respondents (%, N = 224) |
|---|---|---|---|
Myself/Friends/Family Contracting COVID-19 | Concerns about COVID-19 infection for themselves or others in close social circle | “My top concerns are getting infected and someone I know getting infected.” | 20.5 |
Vaccines | Development, distribution, safety, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. | “How effective the vaccine will be and if people will be able to get the vaccine.” | 14.7 |
Death Rate | Increasing death toll | “The amount of deaths by the end of this.” | 13.0 |
School | Effect on student learning, online instruction, attention in school, motivation in school, grades, college preparation | “My education will be effected poorly due to changes in school, freshman year being incomplete and then the pains of online/hybrid/quarantined school, it’s effect on my college-readiness.” | 10.7 |
Economy | Concerns about a recession, small businesses, the future market | “Economic impacts on small businesses.” | 8.5 |
Prevention Strategies | Social distancing, wearing masks, quarantining, staying home, flattening the curve | “So many people are not social distancing and helping to flatten the curve that I worry for these people because they will be the ones most affected by this.” | 8.5 |
Infection Rate | How quickly COVID-19 spreads, “waves” of infection | “How fast it is spreading.” | 5.4 |