Corona study

Life in quarantine

On March 16, 2020, the Swiss Government officially decided on a lockdown due to the Corona pandemic. All shops, restaurants, bars, entertainment and leisure facilities were closed. Moreover, schools had closed their doors for several weeks.

Goal of the research project

This research project aims at investigating how adolescents and young adults perceive the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 and how they cope with the new challenges during such an extraordinary situation.

We asked adolescents and young adults from German and Italian speaking parts of Switzerland as well as youth in Italy about their perception of the virus (e.g., risks, fears, strategies and recom-mended behaviour), civic engagement, the experience of friendships and family, and how adolescents deal with the home-schooling routine. Put differently: What do adolescents and young adults know about the virus, how do they cope with everyday school life and how do they adapt to the new situation?

The results provide important scientific foundations for more targeted support for young people in future situations.

Information about the sample

One sample consists of adolescents in Switzerland and Italy (n=2340), ages 14-21. The other sample was drawn from the child cohort of the COCON study. The young adults have been surveyed every 3 years since the age of 6. Currently, the study participants are about 21 years old.