Needs and Coping Behaviors of Youth in the U.S. During COVID-19.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the needs, emotions, and coping behaviors of U.S. youth during COVID-19. METHODS: Two open-ended questions were posed to 1,174 MyVoice youth, aged 14-24 years, on March 20, 2020, regarding their needs and coping strategies during COVID-19. Qualitative responses were coded using thematic analysis and data were summarized with descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The average age of the 950 respondents (RR = 80.9%) was 18.9 ± 2.8 years with 52.1% female and 63.8% white. While 32.6% of participants felt resources were readily available, 35.2% felt resources were difficult to access or unavailable. Participants also described both emotional responses (27.4%) and coping strategies (69.8%). Most emotional responses were negative, including symptoms of anxiety or depression. Commonly reported coping strategies included staying connected and maintaining positivity. CONCLUSIONS: A significant portion of U.S. youth are experiencing unmet needs and negative emotions due to COVID-19 suggesting additional youth outreach is necessary to ensure basic needs, including socialization, are met.