Adolescents’ Lockdown-Induced Coping Experiences (ALICE) study: A qualitative exploration of early adolescents’ experiences of lockdown and reintegration
The COVID-19 pandemic is sweeping the world, with many lives lost (Gov.UK, 2021). Across the UK, both local and national restrictions are enforced to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. For example, not mixing with other households, not allowing other households into your home, and children not attending school unless they are vulnerable or children of keyworkers (Gov.UK, 2021). These precautions aim to reduce the spread of infection (British Medical Association, 2020). However, the isolation of lockdown inevitably had a negative impact on some people’s mental health (Usher et al., 2020). Indeed, Reger et al. (2020) described the COVID-19 pandemic as a ‘perfect storm’ for inducing emotional distress. Pandemics are associated with uncertainty, ambiguity and loss of control, as well as worries about one’s own and others’ health, lifestyle disruptions, social isolation and loneliness – all of which are known risk factors for heightened mental health difficulties and poorer wellbeing (Shanahan et al., 2020). Specifically, the COVID-19 pandemic, including both the disease itself and the associated prevention measures, presents particular challenges to adolescents (Dvorsky et al., 2020). Factors such as school closures, social distancing requirements, cancelled plans, and loss of face-to-face relationships can all be especially difficult for young people to manage (Branquinho et al., 2020), particularly at a time when they are already at a heightened vulnerability for mental health difficulties.