Decline in adolescent well-being as a result of the coronavirus?
In May this year, 19 research applications received grants from the COVID-19 Fund of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. Which research is involved, who will be carrying it out and what are the expectations? Last but not least, which coronavirus measure should be kept around forever, in the researcher's opinion?
Research contribution: Does COVID-19 increase social inequalities in adolescent well-being?
Main applicant: Catrin Finkenauer
Leader of the project and interviewed below: Gonneke Stevens
What is the research about?
It is about differences in mental well-being, social relations and future prospects among young people before and during the coronavirus, as well as the extent to which the possible impact of the coronavirus may differ for young people from different socioeconomic groups and young people with and without a migrant background.
How will you implement the research?
As part of the YOUth Got Talent project, we conducted 35 interviews in the spring of 2019 about the future prospects of young people aged from 16 to 25. In May and June of this year, we once again interviewed 35 (different) young people on this theme. In addition, 1200 first-year students in senior secondary vocational education completed a questionnaire in the autumn of 2019. A large proportion of them (about 800) did so again in May and June 2020. In the coronavirus era, the questionnaires were completed during a digital lesson which we – as researchers – attended to provide explanations and answer questions. The interviews took place online. We discovered that digital interviews actually work quite well and are efficient.
We would like to know more about the extent to which the coronavirus potentially contributes to a decline in well-being
What will the research (hopefully) yield and what would you like to do with the results?
We would like to know more about the extent to which the coronavirus potentially contributes to a decline in well-being and for whom this could be the case, as well as for whom this will definitely not be the case. The results will be shared via fact sheets, with municipalities, among others, in order to gain better insights into vulnerable groups.
When do you expect to be able to share the initial results?
In September or October of this year.