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‘I’m Gonna Tell You about How Mrs Rona Has Affected Me’. Exploring Young People’s Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic in North East England: A Qualitative Diary-Based Study

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  • Stephanie Scott

    (Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Building, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK
    NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East and North Cumbria, St Nicholas’ Hospital, Jubilee Road, Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE3 3XT, UK)

  • Victoria J. McGowan

    (Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Building, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK
    NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East and North Cumbria, St Nicholas’ Hospital, Jubilee Road, Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE3 3XT, UK)

  • Shelina Visram

    (Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Building, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK
    NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East and North Cumbria, St Nicholas’ Hospital, Jubilee Road, Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE3 3XT, UK)

Abstract

Children and young people risk being ‘disproportionately harmed’ by the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst an evolving body of literature focuses on the impact of the pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, less attention has been paid to the collection of qualitative, exploratory data. The aim of this study was to examine young people in North East England’s experiences of COVID-19 and associated control measures. Flexible, qualitative diaries were collected with 31 young people aged 13–17 for six weeks between July and October 2020. Diary extracts were curated using Instagram Direct Messaging (DM), email and text messaging. At the end of this study, participants took part in a follow-up interview (conducted by telephone or Zoom), asking them to reflect on their diary entries. Thematic analysis of diaries and interviews yielded three central themes: (1) impacts upon mental health and emotional wellbeing; (2) disruptions and changes to education and school life; and (3) frustration, burden and responsibility. These findings highlight acute mental health impacts (loneliness, isolation, anxiety) as well as longer-term repercussions from disrupted education (missed parts of curriculum, home schooling, cancelled exams, periods of isolation) on young people aged 13–17 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephanie Scott & Victoria J. McGowan & Shelina Visram, 2021. "‘I’m Gonna Tell You about How Mrs Rona Has Affected Me’. Exploring Young People’s Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic in North East England: A Qualitative Diary-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3837-:d:531049
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    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. Finiki Nearchou & Clodagh Flinn & Rachel Niland & Sheena Siva Subramaniam & Eilis Hennessy, 2020. "Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health Outcomes in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-19, November.
    3. Milligan, Christine & Bingley, Amanda & Gatrell, Anthony, 2005. "Digging deep: Using diary techniques to explore the place of health and well-being amongst older people," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(9), pages 1882-1892, November.
    4. Lee Elliot Major & Andrew Eyles & Stephen Machin, 2020. "Generation COVID: emerging work and education inequalities," CEP Covid-19 Analyses cepcovid-19-011, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rachel Winter & Anna Lavis, 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Young People’s Mental Health in the UK: Key Insights from Social Media Using Online Ethnography," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.

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