A atuação de psicólogos escolares diante da pandemia do COVID-19: um estudo intercultural entre Brasil e Estados Unidos

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the impacts of the pandemic on the work of school psychologists in the American and Brazilian contexts. In addition, we analyzed the differences and similarities described by the professionals who worked in these two contexts. Twenty-eight school psychologists participated in the study, half (n=14) who worked in Brazil and the other half (n=14) who worked in the United States. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were analyzed through Thematic Analysis. The results identified more similarities between the two contexts, although important differences were also identified. The study revealed school psychologists’ feelings of unpreparedness to adapt their routines to the remote teaching model, lack of adequate technical guidance, and increased levels of stress. In addition, the study revealed that school psychologists from both countries perceived that students had differentiated access to technological resources and the Internet. Differences that emerged between the two groups included the effects on communication with families and the time the school psychologists could dedicate to their own families and leisure activities during the pandemic, with the American psychologists bringing more positive reports in these dimensions.