Supporting teen wellbeing during COVID-19

Researchers are looking to support teenagers' wellbeing through the COVID-19 crisis via a new project called The Tell Study.

Dr Emma Ashworth from the Faculty of Health and lead researcher Dr Ola Demkowicz from the University of Manchester, are collecting accounts from 16-19 year olds of their experiences – good or bad – of their lives under lockdown.

They are appealing via social media for UK-based teens to contribute written accounts of their experiences, telling us about what lockdown looks like for them, what it feels like and how they are managing it.

"16-19 year olds are a group that faces disruption during a key stage in the transition to adulthood, where they typically become more autonomous and begin planning for their future," explains Emma, a lecturer in psychology.

"Their exams may be cancelled and education and employment less certain, but this is also a key age where peers become very important and so this group will be experiencing the impact of significantly reduced social opportunities as well.

"It is important that we learn about what lockdown means for this group and how it affects their wellbeing."

By asking individuals to write an account, the researchers are hoping to get more personal information than would be forthcoming from a quantitative tick-box survey.

Emma said: "I think we can gain a richer and more in-depth picture of this group's subjective experiences of lockdown from their own perspective.

"We are also keen to focus on any potential positive perceptions of lockdown, as not everyone's experiences will be all negative."

Emma and Ola are hoping to use their findings to inform resources for adolescents, parents/carers and mental health and wellbeing professionals - and provide recommendations on strategies to support young people during this time.

If you know 16-19 year olds who would like to take part in the study anonymously, they can do so online.

All participants will receive a CV-boosting Social Responsibility Researcher certificate for taking part.

You can follow project on Twitter