Exploring the hidden disabilities of mental health in the undergraduate laboratory

BACKGROUND:- • Rising numbers of students with diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health conditions. • Teaching labs are complex environments, with anxiety and confidence interrelated. RESEARCH QUESTIONS:- • Do a significant number of students have a formal or informal diagnosis of anxiety? • What impact does this have on their perception of the chemistry lab? • Did COVID-19 impact these perceptions due to lack of prior experience? WHAT WE MEASURE:- • Lab anxiety instrument administered before & after year 1 • Additional questions about anxiety diagnosis/self-diagnosis • Self-assessed impact of pandemic on preparedness PRELIMINARY RESULTS:- • Self- or formal anxiety diagnosis makes things worse, may even affect perception of own experience