The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Adolescents and Young Adults’ Lifestyle

Abstract

Purpose This paper focuses on studying the impact of lockdown on adolescents and young adults (age group 15-20 years). With inevitable lockdown, closure of schools, and the subsequent shift of education to online mode, there has been a significant change in the lifestyle of these individuals and is likely to pose a more substantial threat to their overall development, including their personality development. Therefore, this study explores the lifestyle changes that have occurred while staying at home among children and young adults and how this will impact their psychology, mental health, and personality development in the long run.

Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review was done to extract the study's information. Since the study focused only on adolescents, relevant literature highlighting the problem of adolescents was considered. The descriptive approach was followed to understand the transformations the young adults experienced in their lifestyle during the lockdown and their reactions to situations.

Findings COVID-19 has affected every section of society, from those living in slums to those living in luxurious houses with better protection settings. However, all were not infected by it but were affected economically, mentally, psychologically, and socially. The results were consistent with the fact that there has been a shift from their normal lifestyle and daily routine, which will impact their future development. It was observed that the lockdown and the subsequent changes have significantly affected the mental health of the children and young adults, which will have a role in shaping their cognitive and psychosocial aspects in the future. Therefore, there is a need to recognize the urgency of the situation regarding children's mental health issues and plan for immediate interventions.