IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i12p7163-d836285.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Adolescent Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic and School Closures and Implications for Mental Health, Peer Relationships and Learning: A Qualitative Study in South-West England

Author

Listed:
  • Emily Widnall

    (Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK)

  • Emma A. Adams

    (Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 4ES, UK)

  • Ruth Plackett

    (Division of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London NW3 2PF, UK)

  • Lizzy Winstone

    (Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK)

  • Claire M. A. Haworth

    (School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TU, UK)

  • Becky Mars

    (Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK)

  • Judi Kidger

    (Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK)

Abstract

The COVID-19 ‘lockdown’ and multiple school closures disrupted the daily lives and routines of the entire UK population. However, adolescents were likely particularly impacted by such measures due to this time being key for social and educational development. This qualitative study explored young people’s experiences of lockdowns and school closures. Fifteen secondary schools within south-west England were initially contacted and three schools participated in recruitment efforts. From December 2020 to March 2021, 25 students aged 14–15 participated in a combination of individual interviews ( n = 5) and focus groups ( n = 3). Findings revealed diverse experiences of the pandemic and highlighted the complexity of experiences according to individual student contexts. Three main themes were identified: (1) Learning environments; (2) Connection to peers; (3) Transition, adaptation and coping. These findings highlight the value young people place on face-to-face social contact with close friends, and the sense of structure provided by school, with implications for future home-based learning. Further in-depth qualitative research is needed to continue to understand the varied experiences during the course of the pandemic, particularly longer-term impacts on mental health and learning.

Suggested Citation

  • Emily Widnall & Emma A. Adams & Ruth Plackett & Lizzy Winstone & Claire M. A. Haworth & Becky Mars & Judi Kidger, 2022. "Adolescent Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic and School Closures and Implications for Mental Health, Peer Relationships and Learning: A Qualitative Study in South-West England," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:12:p:7163-:d:836285
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/12/7163/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/12/7163/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Katriona O’Sullivan & Serena Clark & Amy McGrane & Nicole Rock & Lydia Burke & Neasa Boyle & Natasha Joksimovic & Kevin Marshall, 2021. "A Qualitative Study of Child and Adolescent Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ireland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-15, January.
    2. Per Engzell & Arun Frey & Mark D. Verhagen, 2021. "Learning loss due to school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 118(17), pages 2022376118-, April.
    3. Emily Widnall & Lizzy Winstone & Ruth Plackett & Emma A. Adams & Claire M. A. Haworth & Becky Mars & Judi Kidger, 2022. "Impact of School and Peer Connectedness on Adolescent Mental Health and Well-Being Outcomes during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Panel Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-15, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Priska S. Schneider & Michelle Pantis & Christine Preiser & Daniela Hagmann & Gottfried M. Barth & Tobias J. Renner & Katharina Allgaier, 2024. "SARS-CoV-2 and Adolescent Psychiatric Emergencies at the Tübingen University Hospital: Analyzing Trends, Diagnoses, and Contributing Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-27, February.
    2. Aneta Lew-Koralewicz, 2022. "Psychosocial Functioning and the Educational Experiences of Students with ASD during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-15, August.
    3. Lisa B. Thorell & Anna-Karin Klint Carlander & Youstina Demetry & Lisa Marainen & Sarah Nilsson & Charlotte Skoglund, 2024. "Parental Experiences of Distance Learning in Families with and without an Adolescent with ADHD/ASD: A Large Qualitative Survey Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(4), pages 1-18, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Alessio Buonomo & Cinzia Conti & Francesca Di Patrizio & Salvatore Strozza & Marco Dionisio Terribili, 2024. "Distance learning during the pandemic: opinions and attitudes of young students," RIEDS - Rivista Italiana di Economia, Demografia e Statistica - The Italian Journal of Economic, Demographic and Statistical Studies, SIEDS Societa' Italiana di Economia Demografia e Statistica, vol. 78(2), pages 211-220, April-Jun.
    2. Fabio Fontana & Kelsey Bourbeau & Terence Moriarty & Michael Pereira da Silva, 2022. "The Relationship between Physical Activity, Sleep Quality, and Stress: A Study of Teachers during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-9, November.
    3. Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln & Dirk Krueger & André Kurmann & Etienne Lalé & Alexander Ludwig & Irina Popova, 2023. "The Fiscal and Welfare Effects of Policy Responses to the Covid-19 School Closures," IMF Economic Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Monetary Fund, vol. 71(1), pages 35-98, March.
    4. Svaleryd, Helena & Vlachos, Jonas, 2022. "COVID-19 and School Closures," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1008, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    5. Yekaterina Chzhen & Jennifer Symonds & Dympna Devine & Júlia Mikolai & Susan Harkness & Seaneen Sloan & Gabriela Martinez Sainz, 2022. "Learning in a Pandemic: Primary School children’s Emotional Engagement with Remote Schooling during the spring 2020 Covid-19 Lockdown in Ireland," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(4), pages 1517-1538, August.
    6. Edward L. Glaeser, 2021. "Urban Resilience," NBER Working Papers 29261, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Jesús M. Carro & Pedro Gallardo, 2024. "Effect of class size on student achievement in the COVID‐19 “new normal”," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 76(2), pages 303-318, April.
    8. Camille Chambonnière & Nicole Fearnbach & Léna Pelissier & Pauline Genin & Alicia Fillon & Audrey Boscaro & Line Bonjean & Mélina Bailly & Julie Siroux & Terry Guirado & Bruno Pereira & David Thivel &, 2021. "Adverse Collateral Effects of COVID-19 Public Health Restrictions on Physical Fitness and Cognitive Performance in Primary School Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-10, October.
    9. Nicola Fuchs-Schünde & Dirk Krueger & Alexander Ludwig & Irina Popova, 2022. "The Long-Term Distributional and Welfare Effects of Covid-19 School Closures," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 132(645), pages 1647-1683.
    10. Kuzmanic, Danilo & Valenzuela, Juan Pablo & Claro, Susana & Canales, Andrea & Cerda, Daniela & Undurraga, Eduardo A., 2023. "Socioeconomic disparities in the reopening of schools during the pandemic in Chile," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    11. Contreras, M. Ignacia & Duryea, Suzanne & Martínez A., Claudia, 2023. "The effect of the pandemic on the transition to tertiary education in Chile: A focus on students with disabilities," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    12. Rita Takács & Szabolcs Takács & Judit T. Kárász & Attila Oláh & Zoltán Horváth, 2023. "The impact of the first wave of COVID-19 on students’ attainment, analysed by IRT modelling method," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    13. M. Niaz Asadullah & Anindita Bhattacharjee, 2022. "Digital Divide or Digital Provide? Technology, Time Use, and Learning Loss during COVID-19," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(10), pages 1934-1957, October.
    14. Kim Hua Tan & Poh Phui Chan & Nur-Ehsan Mohd Said, 2021. "Higher Education Students’ Online Instruction Perceptions: A Quality Virtual Learning Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-24, September.
    15. Kalewold Hailu Kalewold, 2023. "Lockdowns and the ethics of intergenerational compensation," Politics, Philosophy & Economics, , vol. 22(3), pages 271-289, August.
    16. David R. Agrawal & Aline Bütikofer, 2022. "Public finance in the era of the COVID-19 crisis," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 29(6), pages 1349-1372, December.
    17. Battisti, Michele & Maggio, Giuseppe, 2023. "Will the last be the first? School closures and educational outcomes," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    18. Andrea M. Tilstra & Antonino Polizzi & Sander Wagner & Evelina T. Akimova, 2024. "Projecting the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. population structure," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    19. Julia Bock-Schappelwein & Ulrike Famira-Mühlberger, 2021. "Die COVID-19-Pandemie und Schule. Eine bildungsökonomische Kurzanalyse," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 67333, February.
    20. Contini, Dalit & Di Tommaso, Maria Laura & Muratori, Caterina & Piazzalunga, Daniela & Schiavon, Lucia, 2021. "The COVID-19 Pandemic and School Closure: Learning Loss in Mathematics in Primary Education," IZA Discussion Papers 14785, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:12:p:7163-:d:836285. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.