Impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown on the psychosocial functioning of school going adolescents

Abstract

The psychosocial functioning of school-going adolescents is crucial for their overall growth and holistic development. Research has shown that healthy psychosocial development fosters essential life skills, enabling individuals to engage meaningfully with their environment, families, peers, and communities, supporting healthy functionality and mental resilience. However, the Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic and subsequent lockdown had profound negative effects on adolescents' psychosocial functioning as restrictions created isolation and disconnection from their social networks. Using the Ubuntu lens, an indigenous social work approach, the qualitative study assessed the psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 lockdown through in-depth interviews with the participants. Data were collected from Grage 9 learners, in a high-density suburb in Gauteng province, South Africa. The participants were purposefully selected, and the data was analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that lockdown restrictions significantly impacted adolescents' psychosocial functioning adversely. The lack of social connections and human connectedness attributed to lockdown restrictions led to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety and adversely impacted the adolescents’ normal psychosocial functioning. The South African adolescents also experienced feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, fear and being overwhelmed throughout the lockdown. The combination of pandemic induced social vulnerabilities and limited access to adequate support left some participants struggling to cope. The study concluded by highlighting the need for targeted, innovative social work interventions and strategies responsive to pandemic situations. These are essential to mitigate the possible long-term impacts of the pandemic lockdown on the psychosocial functioning and mental health of school-going adolescents.

Current and previous volumes are available at: https://ajsw.africasocialwork.net