Study Regarding the Dimensions of Personal Autonomy Among Students Aged 13-14 Years Old

Abstract

Personal autonomy is crucial in developing the personality of teenagers. The COVID-19 pandemic constrained adolescents' wishes and choices by imposing isolation at home. This constraint diminished individual autonomy regarding the purpose of choices, the direction of actions and the freedom to carry out particular tasks. The study aims to assess this personality trait by applying the personal autonomy questionnaire with four dimensions: cognitive autonomy, behavioural autonomy, value autonomy and emotional autonomy. The subjects of this research were 62 seventh-grade students with an average age of 13.5±0.29 years old. The results showed that the pandemic period impaired the students' personal autonomy, and some subjects avoided expressing their feelings and lacked confidence in their strengths.