Young People And Covid-19 (Yac) - Social, Economic, And Health Consequences Of Infection Prevention And Control Measures For Young People In Luxembourg (YAC)

Whereas young people have a low risk for severe illness due to COVID-19, they are an important link in the transmission chain and they might find it particularly hard to accept and comply with governmental guidelines and measures to prevent and control the disease. Some of the measures may further interfere disproportionally with their development and result in short- and long-term consequences for education, professional careers, economic situation, psychosocial development, and mental health. Our project will generate the knowledge required to address the current and post-pandemic challenges of the COVID-19 crisis, by (1) focusing on how young people residing in Luxembourg comply with and accept the governmental measures to prevent and control infection with COVID-19 and (2) by identifying the economic, psycho-social, and health consequences of these measures during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to a pre-pandemic baseline we were able to collect in 2019. Inequalities between and within socio-demographic and socio-economic groups in relation to (1) and (2) are of particular interest. To evaluate the situation during and after the pandemic, two intermediate waves (2020 and 2021) are added to the 2019 and 2023/24 waves of the Youth Survey Luxembourg. The Youth Survey Luxembourg is a representative large-scale survey among 16- to 29-year-old residents in Luxembourg, covering all relevant areas outlined above (e.g., education and employment, social situation, health, etc.). COVID-19-specific modules, for example on compliance with measures, will be included to provide vital information for the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistical comparisons of recent data with pre-pandemic baselines will enable a broad and thorough assessment of the short-term, mid-term, and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on the lives of young people. Results will be made available to the public and the research community on a rolling basis. Furthermore, the evidence generated will inform policy-making in Luxembourg and contribute to address various key research priorities identified by the WHO.