Evidence briefing for the EUniWell Policy Commission::Young People and the Covid-19 Pandemic

The group conducted the ‘Adolescent Lockdown-Induced Coping Strategies’ (ALICE) study, examining the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people aged 11-14 in the North West of England from September-December 2020. approximately 300 young people participated from five schools in the region. Data collection consisted of quantitative surveys and qualitative one-to-one interviews with a sub-sample of participants (N=14). Questionnaires asked participants what their lockdown looked like, and presented a series of measures examining their mental health and wellbeing, including internalising difficulties (e.g., anxiety, depression) and externalising difficulties (e.g., behaviour/conduct or attention problems), resilience factors, optimism, and help-seeking strategies. Interviews asked participants about their experiences of lockdown, home-learning, and returning to school