Learning to Care for those in Harm’s Way

CHAMP

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Helping Teens Manage COVID-19
Pandemic Challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in stay-at-homeorders, physical distancing, and other attempts to mitigate
the spread of disease. While all Americans have been
affected by the efforts to contain COVID-19, these effects
have varied by age. Teens are at a stage in life in which they
are trying to establish greater independence from theirfamilies and to strengthen social ties with friends. Though

the COVID-19 public health crisis can complicate thesedevelopmental processes, it also provides opportunities
for teens to learn new skills from adults in their familiesand communities. This fact sheet describes the effects ofongoing physical distancing on teen health and provides
recommendations for adults to help teens during periods ofphysical isolation and as communities reopen.

Challenges facing teens during COVID-19■ Distance learning: Many teens struggle with online
learning. Not being in physical proximity of theirinstructors and peers can lead to difficulties becoming
and staying motivated, organized and focused,understanding expectations, and completing work in atimely manner. These difficulties can cause teens to fallbehind in their academic development.
■ Social life: During physical distancing, teens areunable to hang out with friends, have sleepovers, orattend parties. In addition to causing general boredom,physical distancing can cause teenagers to feel
disconnected from their peers.
■ Athletics: Teens are likely to experience negative
consequences from their inability to participate inorganized sports. Physical health and wellness may
decline as they engage in less physical activity. Inaddition, teenagers will lose a sense of camaraderie
without their team or fellow team members. The
cancellation of sporting events worldwide can also
create a loss of connection to a sport they are passionate
about, and attend or watch together with family andfriends.
■ Online life: Teens will engage more frequently with
online social media during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although online life is an important way to connect
during periods of physical distancing when meeting inperson is not feasible, it can also disconnect teenagers
from the real world and lead to conflict with theirparents if they spend too much time online and avoid
other important activities.
■ Disrupted schedules: Sleep and wake times, school
hours, meal times, and extracurricular activities are an
important part of daily routines that add structure andconsistency. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted

in disruptions of schedules, which can cause fatigue,restlessness, disorganization, and irritability.
Transitions and losses: Many important milestones
and rites of passage in a teen’s life (such as graduations,proms, vacations, internships, jobs, and starting college)
have been postponed or cancelled due to physicaldistancing requirements. These missed opportunities
can lead to a sense of disappointment and loss for teens
as well as their family members.
Desire to go out when it might not be safe yet: Teens
are likely to get impatient when spending so much time
homebound. They will probably want to go out without
realizing they are unnecessarily putting themselves andothers at increased risk.
Uncertainty about the future: Given theunpredictability of the COVID-19 pandemic andwhether additional waves will occur in the future, teensremain uncertain about their return to school and/orfuture distance learning requirements, change in schoolschedules, loss of athletics, and disruption of otherextracurricular and social activities. Teens are likely tohave varied emotional and behavioral responses to such
uncertainty, such as changes in mood, increased anxiety
or depression, decreased motivation, or reduction ingoal-oriented behaviors.
Boredom and loneliness: When physical distancing
leads to physical isolation, teens can feel bored or lonely.
Under such circumstances teens may be more likely toengage in risky behaviors, including alcohol, marijuana
or other substance abuse, or they may take unnecessary
COVID-related risks (such as physically visiting withgroups of friends) that can place their own health, aswell as the health of loved ones in jeopardy. Boredom
can also lead to irritability and conflict with parents andother family members.
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Supporting teen health and well-being during
COVID-19
Many teens can use this time of physical distancing
to seek out and interact with a variety of caring andhelpful adults who can help them stay healthy, manage
disappointments, and successfully adapt to current andfuture COVID-19 challenges. Whether they are parents
or other family members, educators, coaches, or othermembers of the community, caring adults should focus onopen communication with teenagers as well as developing
and maintaining some consistent contact. Parents
especially should work collaboratively with their teens tohelp them find safe, workable solutions to the challenges
they are facing, and to practice flexibility—a skill that willserve them well as independent young adults. It’s also achance to create healthy habits and new routines. With
interactions currently limited, adults should focus on
personally modeling healthy behaviors and habits.
■ Psychological health: Take time to ask teens what theyknow about COVID-19 and how they feel about it. Talk
openly about their disappointments and normalize
these feelings. Help teens develop healthy coping skills
and offer support when possible. Regular check-ins canhelp caring adults understand changes in their teens
mental health needs and when professional supportmay be required.
■ Technology use: Parents should assess their teensInternet use, while keeping in mind that teens willneed additional time to “virtually” connect to theirpeers virtually. Prioritize screen time to complete
school-related activities and to connect with family andfriends. Parents should also monitor and adjust theirown personal technology use to provide a good modelfor teens. Be alert to tendencies of family members
to isolate within the home as their attention to online
activities increases.
■ Physical exercise: Help teens stay fit while at home.
Families can engage in regular activities together,such as taking walks or going on bike rides, or sharing
activities such as yoga gardening, or activities withpets. Trainers may be able to teach students online andwork with parents to set up workout schedules andgain access to athletic equipment. Coaches can checkin with teens’ training progress by tracking exercises
on shared apps or by having teens send them stats after
each activity.
■ Shared meals: Take time to eat together. Whether as afamily at the dinner table or with extended family viavideo call, eating meals together encourage a regularroutine while supporting healthy habits. Cooking
together is another way to teach teens new skills while
spending time with each other.
■ Sleep habits: Help teens establish healthy sleeping
habits. Teens need more sleep than adults, ideally 9 ormore hours each night. Not using electronic devices orwatching TV in bed makes it easier to fall asleep andstay asleep.
■ New opportunities: Create new routines thatincorporate “normal” activities in different ways. For
example, spiritual leaders could host weekly virtualteen groups. Community members and neighbors
can find fun ways to acknowledge and celebrateaccomplishments, special days (such as birthdays orgraduations), and other occasions, while remaining
physically distant.
Resources
American Academy of Pediatrics:
www.aap.org
Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine:www.adolescenthealth.org
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry:
www.aacap.org
For more information
For more information about supporting adolescents andteens, or how to cope during times of stress, visit:
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stresswww.cstsonline.org
Human Performance Resources by CHAMPwww.hprc-online.org