How the COVID-19 pandemic shaped adolescents' future orientations: Insights from a global scoping review

Roderick L Carey; Michelle J Bailey; Camila I Polanco

doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101655

How the COVID-19 pandemic shaped adolescents' future orientations: Insights from a global scoping review

Curr Opin Psychol. 2023 Oct:53:101655. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101655. Epub 2023 Aug 2.

Authors

Roderick L Carey¹, Michelle J Bailey², Camila I Polanco²

Affiliations

¹ University of Delaware, College of Education and Human Development, Newark, DE, USA. Electronic address: rlcarey@udel.edu.
² University of Delaware, College of Education and Human Development, Newark, DE, USA.

PMID: 37540938
DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101655

Abstract

Throughout adolescence, youth imagine what the future holds and determine plans to achieve their educational, professional, and personal goals. In this article, we review research that explores how adolescents' future orientations were shaped by the societal unpredictability, physical and mental health risks, and educational disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings show that the pandemic, which exacerbated existing societal inequities, also heightened adolescents' social awareness, provoked feelings of uncertainty, and altered adolescents' short- and long-term plans for educational and career prospects. Throughout school building closures and program cancellations, families played a greater role in fostering adolescents' plans. With prospects for more societal uncertainty on the horizon, future directions point toward supporting adolescents in developing adaptable and flexible future orientations.

Keywords: Adolescence; COVID-19; Future orientation; Global.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
COVID-19*
Educational Status
Humans
Mental Health
Pandemics
Uncertainty