Young people’s experiences of COVID-19 messaging at the start of the UK lockdown: lessons for positive engagement and information sharing

BMC Public Health

Rochelle Ann Burgess¹  Nancy Kanu¹  Sarah Jenner²  Polly Hardy-Johnson²  Sofia T. Strömmer³  Sarah C. Shaw³  Millie Barrett³  Mary Barker⁴  Kathryn Woods-Townsend⁵  Jillian Manner⁶  Audrey Buelo⁶  Marike Andreas⁶  Divya Sivaramakrishnan⁶  Ruth Jepson⁶  Kathleen Morrison⁶  Sorna Paramananthan⁶  Tom Hughes⁶  Lisa Bagust⁷  Donna Lovelock⁷  Tanya Matthews⁸  Amina Smith-Gul⁸  Malik Gul⁸ 

[1] Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK;MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK;MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK;NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK;MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK;NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK;School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK;NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK;Southampton Education School, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK;Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy, School of Health in Social Science, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK;Southampton Education School, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK;Wandsworth Community Empowerment Network, London, UK;

关键词: Young people;    Government messaging;    Pandemic;    COVID-19;    Qualitative;    Adolescence;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-022-12755-3

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundTo reduce COVID-19 infection rates during the initial stages of the pandemic, the UK Government mandated a strict period of restriction on freedom of movement or ‘lockdown’. For young people, closure of schools and higher education institutions and social distancing rules may have been particularly challenging, coming at a critical time in their lives for social and emotional development. This study explored young people’s experiences of the UK Government’s initial response to the pandemic and related government messaging.MethodsThis qualitative study combines data from research groups at the University of Southampton, University of Edinburgh and University College London. Thirty-six online focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 150 young people (Southampton: n = 69; FGD = 7; Edinburgh: n = 41; FGD = 5; UCL: n = 40; FGD = 24). Thematic analysis was conducted to explore how young people viewed the government’s response and messaging and to develop recommendations for how to best involve young people in addressing similar crises in the future.ResultsThe abrupt onset of lockdown left young people shocked, confused and feeling ignored by government and media messaging. Despite this, they were motivated to adhere to government advice by the hope that life might soon return to normal. They felt a responsibility to help with the pandemic response, and wanted to be productive with their time, but saw few opportunities to volunteer.ConclusionsYoung people want to be listened to and feel they have a part to play in responding to a national crisis such as the COVID-19 epidemic. To reduce the likelihood of disenfranchising the next generation, Government and the media should focus on developing messaging that reflects young people’s values and concerns and to provide opportunities for young people to become involved in responses to future crises.

【 授权许可】

CC BY