| Abstract [eng] |
The research examines the problems Lithuanian adolescents are facing due to Covid-19 pandemic and the extended quarantine period that followed. The pandemic shook the entire world but adolescents are one of the most sensitive target groups in terms of social well-being while major societal changes are going on, while being a teenager is a challenge in and of itself (Larson, Brinley, Caponio, Trott, Wilson 2020). During the quarantine the adolescents experienced (and continue experiencing) a lot of changes in everyday life and encounter a plethora of challenges – social isolation, remote studies, negative emotional climate, etc. Adolescents who are having troubles at home, struggle with education, come from an impoverished background, are having emotional or behavioral difficulties are especially sensitive to any sudden societal changes. These new changes may further impact the already troublesome social exclusion and the consequences the global health crisis and its impact on society is unknown yet. Social workers and other professionals working with or closely related to the well-being of adolescents had a really big challenge in their fields of work in both government and non-government organizations. This research analyses the actions and strategies that had or could have had a positive effect on the well-being of adolescents during the quarantine. The main goal of the research is to analyze and determine which struggles of the adolescents became the most problematic and what type of social work is the most effective in tackling such problems. A qualitative research method was applied to achieve this goal and expert interviews were instrumental in answering the main questions posed by this research. While analyzing the data it became clear that the psychological state of adolescents has deteriorated significantly. Teenagers are spending more time on their computers – both during the classes and in their free time. It is also clear that teenagers are using more psychoactive substances, exercise less, have more frequent issues with physical pain and psychological struggles. Research analysis shows that adolescents feel lonely, unheard and misunderstood. During the quarantine period specialists employed various methods to help adolescents cope with their struggles even if sometimes it meant breaking the quarantine laws and regulations. |
