I Hate This: A Qualitative Analysis of Adolescents' Self-Reported Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic presents unique challenges for adolescents because of disruptions in school and social life. We compiled a diverse group (36.8% nonwhite or multiracial) of high schoolers' open-ended responses to the question: What are your three biggest challenges right now? (N = 719 adolescents). Methods: Using open and axial coding, we identified N = 1,902 thematic units (M = 2.64, SD = .701) and 14 thematic categories, including mental health, physical health, family, friends, social connection and community, academics, missing important events, socioeconomic issues, routine, COVID rules and adjustment, contraction/exposure to COVID, technology, and future plans. Results: Adolescents most commonly reported challenges related to academics (23.7%) but also cited high numbers of challenges in mental (14.8%) and physical (13.2%) health and friend (11.4%) domains. Conclusions: Efforts should focus on helping adolescents cultivate academic skills needed during school closures, providing mental/physical health resources and helping them navigate peer relationshipsdespecially given ongoing remote education and social distancing due to the pandemic. (c) 2020 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Adolescents are facing challenges in academics, mental health, and social relationships, especially under the circumstances of remote education and social distancing due to the ongoing pandemic. Efforts should focus on cultivating academic skills, providing mental health resources, and helping them navigate peer relationships.