Abstract

The goal of this thesis was to examine the relationship between personality types (i.e., extraversion and neuroticism) and anxiety levels among college students during the height of the pandemic. Specifically, this study examined whether factors contributed to anxiety and whether differences in anxiety scores differed by personality trait. It was hypothesized that individuals who scored high in both extraversion and neuroticism would report an increase in anxiety during the height of COVID-19 pandemic. Neuroticism is linked to emotional responses to a negative event (e.g., such as COVID), which may play a role on anxiety levels. The level of extraversion that an individual displays may predict social preferences, and in turn, their reaction to the situations that create isolation such as the pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 163 students at the University of Central Florida, who completed a survey that measured anxiety levels before and after the start of the pandemic in addition to personality types. Results showed that an individual's level of extraversion correlated with an increase in anxiety levels [F(2,116) = 4.720, p = 0.011, np2=.075], but level of neuroticism level [F(2,117) = 0.878, p = 0.433)] did not. These findings have implication for other isolation situations, in which a person's personality traits could help to predict how their mental health may be affected by a future pandemic or social isolation.

Thesis Completion

2023

Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair/Advisor

Gryglewicz, Kim

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Medicine

Department

Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences

Degree Program

Biomedical Sciences

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Release Date

5-15-2023

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