New research focuses on how young people’s lives changed during the pandemic and breaks down common clichés – Young people are not so careless after all, nor should they become the scapegoats of the pandemic

When the number of coronavirus cases began to rise again after the summer, young people were targeted. At the beginning of the second wave of the pandemic, most cases were found mainly in young people and not in the elderly. Maybe because they went out more or maybe they did not keep safe distances. Of course, this criticism turned out to be a reproduction of a cliché: young people are too careless and will thus transmit the virus to the older population groups. In fact, leaders around the world have addressed a special appeal to young people to refrain from gatherings and celebrations that are not necessary.

However, a recent survey by the YouGov polling institute on behalf of the TUI Foundation does not confirm this negative image for young people. The research was conducted on 1000 people aged 16 to 26 years.

The negative image for young people is not confirmed

According to the head of the research Peter Manot, young people show the “required solidarity”. Peter Manot sums up the main findings of the research by saying that more than half of the respondents say that the measures taken to treat the coronavirus are appropriate. Only one-fifth consider them excessive. One in four would be in favor of even stricter measures. It is also interesting that the vast majority,  83%, fully or mainly comply with the protection measures and recommendations for the pandemic. Only 2% of the participants state that they do not observe the required measures at all. In fact, for  89% of the respondents, what matters most is the protection of others, and in fact the older ones.

Thus it is not concluded that the majority of young people ignore or choose not to take measures for the coronavirus. The well-known Berlin Center for Social Research also participated in the study. Research center spokesman Markus Splitter also notes an interesting change in the image of young people. At the beginning of the pandemic, he says, they had a positive image, as many had volunteered to help deal with the pandemic. However, in the summer they became synonymous with the famous “herd immunity”. Many said that young people were not really interested in the pandemic and were indifferent to the transmission of the virus.

Significant changes in the lifestyle of young people

An equally interesting element is the changes brought about by the pandemic in the way of life of young people. By The Lockdown in March, many clubs were forced to close, while other activities, such as sports or travel, were limited. In short, the pandemic has severely restricted young people’s choices to try new things and gain new experiences.

However, 26% of young people surveyed are now more pessimistic than in January. However, limited social contacts cause severe stress for 42%. So are the 40% restrictions on leisure opportunities. But just 29% say they “suffer” because they don’t have a party like before. Other reasons that cause stress to young people are, according to the new research, financial insecurity (19%) and telework (20% ).