Survey shows educational, emotional toll of the pandemic on Arizona teens

PHOENIX — A new survey shows how the COVID-19 pandemic affected Arizona teens both academically and emotionally.

The nonprofit Junior Achievement of Arizona surveyed more than 1,000 students ages 13 to 17.

“We found that nearly 2-in-5 of those students feel that they’re behind educationally because of the pandemic,” Anne Landers, the nonprofit’s vice president of strategic impact, told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

“And of those, more than a third feel that gap is permanent.”

The survey also found that more than a third of Arizona teens feel that, in addition to attending school in-person and interacting with other students, they’re going to need emotional support this school year to help with their mental well-being.

Landers said that emotional support will have to come from teachers, but also, other caring adults.

“It’s really going to be anybody that’s an adult influence in our student’s lives. It’s parents, it’s counselors, it’s mentors, maybe it’s bosses,” she said.

“We’re really going to have to wrap around our students this year and beyond to give them the support they need.”

As the new school year gets underway, 34% of teens surveyed said they have concerns about attending school in-person this year, compared to 66% who have little to no concerns.

The survey also found 56% of teens rated the quality of education during the pandemic as fair or poor, while 44% rated it as excellent, very good or good.

Teen interest in participating in online learning in the future was split down the middle.

The research firm ENGINE Insights conducted the survey for Junior Achievement of Arizona. It surveyed a total of 1,003 13- to 17-year-old students in Arizona from July 8 through July 13.

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