When examining challenges by the class year, first, second, third, and fourth year students generally reflected the responses of the entire sample. Observationally, friends were more of a challenge for the first and second year students and third year students reported the most challenges related to academics and work habits. Future concerns were endorsed more by third and fourth year students, but especially for fourth year students.

Results: Challenges by Year in High School

We observed challenges separately for female, male, and gender minority (e.g., transgender, nonbinary) students. Gender minority students reported the most challenges with mental and physical health, and social connection and community. However, this group reported the least challenges with family and friends. Students identifying as male had the most challenges around academics and work habits and the future. Female students reported the most challenges with friends and family.

Results: Challenges by Gender

Students who identified as black/African-American and Asian indicated the most challenges with academics and work habits. Black-white students had the highest challenges in mental health, family, social connection and community, and COVID rules and adjustments, and students who were Hispanic/Latinx identified the most challenges related to physical health. Nonwhite-multiracial-Latinx students reported the highest challenges in friends and technology. White-Latinx students described the most challenges related to routine and contraction/exposure to COVID-19. White-Asian students reported the most challenges in the socioeconomic category, and white students indicated the most challenges related to the future.

Results: Challenges reported by Racial/Ethnic group

To explore variability in responses by different sociodemographic groups, they separated responses by the class year, gender, and race/ethnicity.

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

The COVID-19 pandemic presents unique challenges for adolescents because of disruptions in both school and social life.

Psychological effects of Covid-19 on Adolescents

Scott, S. R., Rivera, K. M., Rushing, E., Manczak, E. M., Rozek, C. S., & Doom, J. R. (2021). “I Hate This”: A Qualitative Analysis of Adolescents' Self-Reported Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Adolescent Health, 68(2), 262-269. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.umich.edu/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.11.010

During the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescents are experiencing developmentally salient challenges, including lack of in-person schooling and peer interactions. Adolescents highly value peer connection and approval and are more likely to experience the onset of psychological disorders than during childhood. The researchers wanted to discover what adolescents view as their biggest challenges during school shutdowns.

Study Background

Results #2: Challenge categories by sociodemographic group

Results: Overall thematic categories

- Although e-learning platforms are well accepted, the results indicate that challenges related to academics and work habits are of highest concern. School officials should prioritize helping students successfully navigate remote education.

- Mental and physical health are challenging to navigate during isolation, and our results indicate adolescents are experiencing substantial hardship. Parents and school officials should ensure barriers to mental health care and ease of use are addressed. App-based psychosocial interventions may be helpful.

- Only 1.4% of all challenges reported involved concerns about contraction of or exposure to the virus itself. This is important to consider as the pandemic unfolds and more shutdown orders flux. Public health experts may consider educating adolescents with accurate information about how COVID-19 can affect them. 

- Generally, efforts should focus on helping adolescents cultivate academic skills needed during school closures, providing mental/physical health resources and helping them navigate peer relationships—especially given ongoing remote education and social distancing due to the pandemic.


Conclusion/Next Steps

In a 2021 study by Scott et al. on adolescents' challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers analyzed open-ended responses from a diverse group of high schoolers ($$N = 719$$) to the question: “What are your three biggest challenges right now?” The 30-minute survey also included instruments assessing physical and mental health symptoms. Using open and axial coding, they identified $$N = 1,902$$ thematic units ($$M = 2.64$$, $$SD = 0.701$$) across 14 categories, such as mental and physical health, family, academics, and socioeconomic issues.

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