Difficulties, uncertainty, and opportunity : The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic by early to late adolescence in the Czech Republic

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Authors

ŠTĚPÁNKOVÁ Lenka FIKRLOVÁ Jana ALBRECHT Andrea ŠEREK Jan BROJÁČ Jakub

Year of publication 2023
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Social and Personality Psychology Compass
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Social Studies

Citation
Web article - open access
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12844
Keywords adolescents; cognitive appraisal; individual experience; pandemic; well-being
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Description The pandemic created an unfamiliar situation for adolescents, especially within the school context. Drawing on the theory of cognitive appraisal, according to which people evaluate the benefit, harm, and threat of a certain event, this study explored Czech adolescents' experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted six focus groups with early (11–12 years), middle (14–15 years), and late (18–19 years) adolescents. Using thematic analysis, we identified three themes—pandemic as difficulties, uncertainty, and a (un)seized opportunity. While some younger participants initially perceived the pandemic as exciting, others struggled immediately with isolation, online learning, and disrupted daily activities. The feelings of distressing uncertainty, but also the appraisal of the pandemic as an opportunity to utilize free time differently, which in some cases faded over time, prevailed among late adolescents. This study captured the effects of the pandemic and its appraisals on adolescents' subjective well-being and the shift in the thinking of early and late adolescents.
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