‘Everything turned upside down’: A thematic analysis of adolescents’ experiences of everyday life during COVID-19 restrictions

BACKGROUND: At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, people were encouraged to practice social distancing, and schools and leisure venues closed. AIMS: We aimed to explore the everyday experiences of Norwegian adolescents during COVID-19 restrictions, when in-person contact with peers was severely limited. METHODS: A total of 622 high-school students (16–18 years of age) replied to an online survey containing open-ended questions about the changes they experienced in everyday life during the first three months of the pandemic. RESULTS: Reflexive thematic analysis resulted in four themes: (a) ‘Everyday life turned upside down – everything is on hold’; (b) ‘Alone with my thoughts – new concerns’; (c) ‘A loss of social life – a fear of wasting important time’; and (d) ‘Gratitude – new perspectives in life’. The results are discussed according to mental-health concerns and psychological developmental challenges during adolescence, such as social exploration of roles with peers, autonomy and identity formation during a crisis. CONCLUSIONS: The results underline individual variations and positive experiences among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite social restrictions. Still, the lack of in-person contact with friends is related to an increased experience of loneliness and mental-health concerns for many adolescents.