The Covid Generation research project
The Covid Generation is a three-year project (2023-2026), funded by the SNFS through the NRP80 “Covid-19 in Society”. This collaborative project involves researchers from FORS, the University of Lausanne and the University of Neuchâtel. The project is also conducted in close collaboration with several partners from the policy field. We examine wellbeing of young people as well as the response of the policy field to support their wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The project examines wellbeing of young people as well as the response of the policy field to support their wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project will answer the following two main questions:
1. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected wellbeing of young people? (Read more about WP1)
Specifically, we examine how wellbeing changed over time, what were the main drivers, which groups were most at risk and which protective factors mitigated negative consequences for wellbeing?
The main objective of WP1 is to shed light on the factors influencing young people’s (aged 14-35) wellbeing during the pandemic and beyond (in the short-term during the pandemic, and in the medium term until 2024). Next to examining, with a cohort approach, whether the wellbeing of the cohort experiencing the pandemic was differently affected compared to a pre-pandemic cohort, we also examine two types of factors contributing to this (1) whether the well-being effect of the pandemic was different depending on the socio-economic position of the young people and (2) whether the well-being effect was driven by changes in social connection, in socio-economic position and changes in school and work situation during the pandemic.
Do you want to know more about first results of WP1? See our publications
2. What can we learn from the policy response for future crises? (Read more about WP2)
Specifically, we examine whether and how did policy initiatives to support young people during the pandemic focus on the groups most at risk, and what lessons can be drawn from the development and implementation of these programs?
The main objective of WP2 is to provide an overview of the diversity of policy initiatives oriented at supporting young people’s wellbeing over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. We will bring together policies and programmes and draw conclusions on whether they reached the groups most at risk and with respect to lessons learned for youth policy in the near future and in the context of a future crisis.
This is done by producing an inventory of policies and programmes targeting young people for cantons VD, ZH, VS, SG, & TI, which will provide a detailed overview of how these policy responses have been developed, implemented and with which success. Complementing the documentary analysis with 25-30 expert interviews, we will identify the strengths and weaknesses of the selected programmes as well as the challenges faced, and lessons learnt during their development and implementation.
Our results will be translated into recommendations for policy interventions targeting young people’s wellbeing in the next few years and in the context of eventual future crises.
Do you want to inform us about a policy measure or programme focusing on young people’s wellbeing during the pandemic, contact us!