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The COVID-19 Pandemic, Well-Being, and Transitions to Post-secondary Education

Author

Listed:
  • Sandner, Malte

    (Technische Hochschule Nürnberg)

  • Patzina, Alexander

    (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg)

  • Anger, Silke

    (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg)

  • Bernhard, Sarah

    (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg)

  • Dietrich, Hans

    (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg)

Abstract

This study examines the immediate and intermediate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of two high school graduation cohorts (2020 and 2021). We also investigate how changes in well-being at the transition to post-secondary education affect educational plans and outcomes. Our unique panel data contain prospective survey information on three dimensions of well- being: mental health problems, self-rated health, and life satisfaction for 3,697 students. Data is collected several months before (fall 2019), shortly before and soon after (spring 2020), and several months after (fall/winter 2020/21) the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applying difference-in-differences designs, random effect growth curve models, and linear regression models, we find that school closures had a positive immediate effect on students' wellbeing. Over the course of the pandemic, however, well-being strongly declined, mainly concentrated among the 2021 graduation cohort. Finally, we show that a strong decline in mental health is associated with changes in educational and career plans and transition outcomes. As adverse life experiences in adolescence are likely to accumulate over the life course, this study is the first to exhibit potential long-lasting negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on education and careers of young individuals.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandner, Malte & Patzina, Alexander & Anger, Silke & Bernhard, Sarah & Dietrich, Hans, 2021. "The COVID-19 Pandemic, Well-Being, and Transitions to Post-secondary Education," IZA Discussion Papers 14797, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14797
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    Cited by:

    1. Alderighi, Lorenzo & Ballatore, Rosario M. & Tonello, Marco, 2023. "Hidden drop-out: Secondary education (unseen) failure in pandemic times," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1293, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    2. Neugebauer, Martin & Patzina, Alexander & Dietrich, Hans & Sandner, Malte, 2023. "Two Pandemic Years Greatly Reduced Young People's Life Satisfaction: Evidence from a Comparison with Pre-COVID-19 Panel Data," IZA Discussion Papers 16636, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Eichhorst, Werner & Marx, Paul & Rinne, Ulf & Brunner, Johannes, 2022. "Promoting Youth Employment During COVID-19: A Review of Policy Responses," IZA Policy Papers 188, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    mental and physical well-being; high school graduates; COVID-19; life satisfaction; school-to-work transition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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