Exploring types of anxiety disorders affecting learners’ learning in a secondary school in South Africa

Abstract

As learners progress through their educational journey, they encounter numerous challenges and changes, which undoubtedly lead to stress. This may be brought on by the demands made on them academically, the personal development adolescents go through, and the adaptations needed in unfamiliar environments, all of which are essential components of their educational experiences. Anxiety disorders are one of the primary challenges learners face in secondary schools. Despite increased awareness of mental health issues in schools, there has been little research on the various types of anxiety disorders, such as generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and test anxiety, that affect learners in South African schools and how these conditions influence their learning outcomes. This study employed a qualitative research approach, mainly focusing on existing literature and documents to explore types of anxiety disorders affecting learners’ learning in a secondary school in South Africa. The following keywords were used in a systematic search of academic databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, JSTOR, and policy documents: “anxiety disorders”, “learners”, “South African schools”, “mental health”, and “impact on learning”. The study used a thematic analysis to identify themes in literature. Data were analysed to identify key findings and insights. There is a limitation: reliance on existing literature and potential bias in source selection.