‘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

Bibliographic Data

ID17801088
AuthorsStephanie Scott (0000-0002-5334-9746, Royal Victoria Infirmary, corresponding author), Victoria J Mcgowan (0000-0002-4743-9120, Royal Victoria Infirmary), Shelina Visram (0000-0001-9576-2689, Royal Victoria Infirmary)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue7
Pages3837-3837
Publication date2021-04-06
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph18073837
PMID33917557
OpenAlexW3150091768
LanguageEN
Citations received22
References cited43

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

Anxiety · Curriculum · Developmental psychology · Feeling · Loneliness · Mental health · Pandemic · Pedagogy · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Social isolation · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Young adult · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Family Support in Illness · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Youth Education and Societal Dynamics

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