“The most important thing is to communicate with students”: experiences and voices of Canadian youth during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to learn directly from youth about how they navigated and experienced the COVID-19 pandemic response, with a focus on secondary school policies and protocols. Thirty semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted with Canadian youth (13–18 years old, 53.3% girls, 46.7% white) and analysed using inductive interpretive description. Youth discussed challenges related to a lack of direct communication and consultation about pandemic-related decisions, the shifts between different school modalities, the loss of extracurricular opportunities, and a need for mental health support, which they connected to adverse impacts on their learning, health, and future opportunities. Participants’ top recommendation for adults was to include youth in decision-making on matters that impact them. To uphold their rights, support healthy development, and ensure more effective policies/protocols, the authentic engagement of youth in decision-making processes and improved communication are necessary and were absent during the pandemic.

KEYWORDS:

• qualitative
• youth voices
• COVID-19
• interviews
• school policy
• mental health

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank the students that participated in the interviews for their time and willingness to speak of their experiences. We would also like to thank the members of the COMPASS Youth Ambassador Committee for providing their insights in the development of the interview script and interpretation of our results to help ensure that youth experiences were appropriately reflected.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2023.2239327

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by a SickKids Foundation New Investigator Grant, in partnership with CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH) (Grant No. NI21-1193; awarded to Karen A Patte).

Notes on contributors

Negin A. Riazi

Negin A. Riazi, Brock University, Dr. Riazi is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Health Sciences. Her current research focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian youth mental health. Twitter: @NeginRiazi

Jessica Goddard

Jessica Goddard, Brock University; Jessica Goddard is a Masters student in the Department of Health Sciences examining school mental health program engagement and mental health outcomes for secondary school students in Canada.

Sarah Lappin

Sarah Lappin, Brock University; Sarah Lappin is a member of the COMPASS Youth Ambassador Committee where members provide input on research methods, interpretation, and dissemination, and collaborate with researchers at Brock University.

Valerie Michaelson

Valerie Michaelson, Brock University; Dr. Michaelson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences. Her research focuses on the health and well-being of children and adolescents, and the social determinants that shape their health trajectories.

Terrance J. Wade

Terrance J. Wade, Brock University: Dr. Wade is a Professor in the Department of Health Sciences. His research takes a population perspective, focusing on the social and structural determinants of mental and physical health and behaviour across the life course with an emphasis on children.

Karen A. Patte

Karen A. Patte, Brock University: Dr. Patte is the Canada Research Chair in Child Health Equity and Inclusion and an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Sciences. Her research focuses on interacting psychosocial, behavioural, and environmental predictors of youth health and ill-health. Twitter: @Karen_Patte