Authors:  Murry, V. M., Stanton, C. A., & Gonçalves, C.

Overnight, bustling cities morphed into eerily silent ghost towns as people retreated into the confines of their homes- some in solitude, others in chaos of crowded spaces with large families. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the world to come to a complete stop, as we witnessed a historic event happening and unfolding in real-time. The pandemic also created a crisis in all structures and systems throughout the world, taking a major toll on people’s mental and physical health. Millions of people were infected daily, resulting in massive hospitalizations and deaths. No one was protected, young, middle-age, elderly, wealthy, middle-class, low-income, regardless of continent. COVID-19 had devastating effects on populations that were already suffering to make ends meet because of systemic exclusionary policies that restricted resources and opportunities to live healthy lives. These populations experienced the greatest burden of danger, despair, hospitalizations, and deaths during the pandemic (NASEM, Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic). Youth development already negatively influenced by generational systematic and structural oppression and socio-political conflict can be even further damaged when adding a global pandemic to the mix.

Despite its devastation, several lessons were learned during the COVID-19 pandemic that can inform and guide models for those whose work focuses on improving the lives and wellbeing of adolescents and their families.

• Team science and applied research are effective ways to engage in solution focused research. COVID-19 rapid response approaches taught us how to conduct and use research as a vehicle to inform and transform policies and practices. Safety and survival of the world happened because teams of collaborators that included multiple disciplines partnered with policy and community organizers, and collectively identified effective ways to address the spread of COVID-19.
• Research can be used as a tool to solve urgent problems, not just creating knowledge. Research findings were immediately translated into policies and practices, rather than simply being published in scientific journals for other academics. Results focused on effective ways to optimize safety and survival through policies, practices, and behavioral changes.
• Because societies have not taken care of their most vulnerable, they are not      aware of effective ways to address screening and vaccine hesitancy among those in greatest need. A successful pathway to broad administration of the COVID-19 vaccine was working with and through community leaders or “trusted messengers” to shape strategies, develop programs, and improve access to health services to increase safety and survival of marginalized populations.
• The need for rapid response led to increased focus on not only translational research but action-oriented plans for immediate dissemination to educate, update, and share reliable information. Technology and social media were two prominent dissemination platforms. The rapid response from COVID-19 opened a doorway to a new way of thinking about how to address crises, such as pandemics, as well as effective ways to reduce health inequities for underserved communities around the world. The solution-focused approach provides a model to guide adolescence. 

Before COVID-19 happened, many families and youth were already facing crises associated with political and social unrest, mass shootings and gun violence, and climate change. These events can also be considered pandemics, as they threaten the safety and survival of youth, families, and communities. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic solution-focused rapid response approaches can be applied to address these pandemics.

Youth are not idly sitting back as bystanders. Many are engaged in protesting      anti-humane policies, echoing the importance of including youth as meaningful advisors and solution-generators. Youth participatory research approaches should be standard approaches in research on adolescence.  “Nothing for us without us.”

All humans have the right to live in a safe and nurturing environment. To fully tackle multiple pandemics, we must also examine how structural and systematic oppression impact development and adjustment of adolescents who are marginalized. Change      occurs not only from acknowledgement but also by doing something to eliminate what needs to be changed. “When hearts and minds are willing to address crises, structural barriers are removed and solutions-focused possibilities become realities.”

Source: Murry V. M. (2024). Seizing the moments and lessons learned from the global response to COVID-19 pandemic: Creating a platform to shape the scientific and public discourse of research on adolescence. Journal of Research on Adolescence: The Official Journal of the Society for Research on Adolescence, 00, 1-12, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.13020