The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was a major public health event characterized by unprecedented disruptions to daily life around the world. A conceptual model proposed by Prime and colleagues (2020) delineates the way in which social disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic may pose acute risks to family, caregiver, and child wellbeing. According to this model, social disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic impact individual family members (e.g., caregivers) as well as dyadic relationships (e.g., caregiver-child, marital relationships) and whole family processes (e.g., routines, communication). However, despite these disruptions, there may be “silver linings” that manifest at both an individual and relational level, and contextual influences that promote such experiences.
COVID-19 has provided dramatic and unprecedented changes to daily life, occurring in the context of economic and health uncertainty. This has posed notable challenges to both the physical and psychological well-being of individuals of all ages. Indeed, the negative effects have been widely publicized. Less is known about how youth have adapted and thrived despite these changes. This Research Topic seeks to bring together a collection of articles that can address:
• ways in which youth have successfully coped and grown in response to this ongoing stressor as well;
• the individual and contextual assets that were instrumental in facilitating a positive response to counter the disruptions of this ongoing stressor.
By gathering a diverse group of scholars engaged in rigorous multi-disciplinary work, we will generate greater insight into key psychological processes that promote well-being and be better equipped to address youth well-being despite widespread outbreaks and societal challenges.
This Research Topic will consider a broad range of characteristics and contextual influences that can be brought to bear on well-being during COVID-19, including by not limited to introversion, executive functions, optimism, humor, spirituality, meditation, religious practices, siblings, pets, friendships, sleep, family routines, exposure to nature, and extracurricular involvement.
We welcome in particular empirical research articles, but Conceptual Analysis and Systematic Reviews will also be considered.
Image Credit:
Mike Scheid