Explaining Adolescents’ Experiences of the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Lifestyle Behaviors

ABSTRACT

Aims Since 2019, COVID-19 has become a public health emergency and a global threat. Although adolescents are a vulnerable group, they have not received much attention. Accordingly, the present study aimed to explain adolescents’ experiences of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle behaviors. Participant & Methods This study was conducted as a qualitative study with a qualitative content analysis approach at Zanjan University of Medical Sciences in 1400. Purposeful sampling consisted of 21 adolescents of both sexes. The data collection method was semi-structured and in-depth interviews. Findings A total of 112 initial codes were obtained, which after merging similar codes finally extracted 89 semantic units in 12 subcategories and 3 main categories including Physical consequences, Psychological consequences, and Cognitive-emotional consequences from the perspective of adolescents. Conclusion Considering the formation of lifestyle behaviors in adolescence and the positive and negative effects of coronary heart disease on various aspects of adolescent lifestyle, it seems that governments should pay special attention to this age group that is the future makers of countries and steps Valuable for this age group to flourish. © 2022, the Authors ;Publishing Rights, ASPI.