Young peoples' compliance with COVID19 public health measures

The research aims to improve communication and adherence to public health messaging around SARS-CoV-2 towards young people. Young people have often been blamed for clusters and spikes in cases. Yet, we know from the WHO that health messaging that emphasises social solidarity is crucial to adherence to public health measures. Containment depends on people at less risk (e.g. young people) acting to protect the vulnerable (e.g. old people). This research will interview young people with the express purpose of understanding factors that promote and impede adherence to COVID restrictions. Young people will be asked their views in terms of health behaviours and vaccine intentions, and their understanding of the value of the measures. They will also be asked about available health messaging from a range of statutory, health and online sources and their views of how they and their peers have behaved and have been depicted over the course of the pandemic to date. Analysis of these interviews will explore perceived risk and trust in public health messaging amongst this key demographic group. Young peoples ideas will be synthesised in the analysis to highlight the types of messages that may appeal to this group.