Risk perception and experiences of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic: stories of Mexican adolescents
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Introduction: Risk perception and the experiences of social isolation due to COVID-19 are different for adolescents than for adults.
Objective: Describe and analyze risk perception and experiences with social isolation of adolescents from a marginalized municipality with high contagion levels.
Methods: Qualitative study that implemented semi-structured written interviews with open-ended questions, conducted via email. Topics: knowledge about the virus, protective measures, high risk activities, experience of isolation. Thematic analysis, triangulation and interpretation were carried out from the perspectives of medical anthropology and psychology.
Results: There were 16 participants (14 to 18 years old). They have biomedical knowledge about the virus, symptoms, and contagion, that follow instructions for self-care and at home; everyone, including themselves, is at risk, especially vulnerable people and highly exposed. Taking care of oneself is a personal and social responsibility; participants stigmatize their peers and their own community that does not take care of itself. They express boredom, stress, and annoyance due to isolation.
Discussion: Young people have a high perception of risk, socially constructed through their interactions, and generated by context of marginality, vulnerability, and risk. They adhere to their family’s risk perception and not their peers. They have negative emotional responses, and they lack strategies to cope with isolation and the alteration of their daily lives; school is stressful.
Conclusions: Risk perception of COVID-19 among young people is a process and a social construct within a specific social context. The intense psychological experience of social isolation is related to young people’s need for socialization.
Article Details
Dimensions citation
MÉTRICAS
References
(1) Secretaría de Salud. 110. Inicia la fase 3 por COVID-19. México: SSA; 2020. https://bit.ly/3BaMNOh
(2) Secretaría de Gobernación. ACUERDO número 02/03/20 por el que se suspenden las clases en las escuelas de educación preescolar, primaria, secundaria, normal y demás para la formación de maestros de educación básica del Sistema Educativo Nacional, así como
aquellas de los tipos medio superior y superior dependientes de la Secretaría de Educación Pública. México: Diario Oficial de la Federación; 2020. https://bit.ly/3B3bBrl
(3) Patel NA. Pediatric COVID-19: Systematic review of the literature. Am J Otolaryngol. 2020; 41(5): e102573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjoto.2020.102573
(4) Comisión de Derechos Humanos de la Ciudad de México. #InfanciasEncerradas Consulta aniñas, niños y adolescentes. Reporte del estado de Chihuahua. Ciudad de México: CDHCM; 2020. https://bit.ly/41tnu3d
(5) Organización Panamericana de la Salud. Las niñas, niños y adolescentes no son la población que contrae la COVID-19 con mayor frecuencia, sin embargo, están en riesgo de ser las mayores víctimas. México: OPS; 2020. https://bit.ly/3LVoojo
(6) Commodari E, La Rosa VL. Adolescents in quarantine during covid-19 pandemic in Italy: perceived health risk, beliefs, psychological experiences and expectations for the future. Front Psychol. 2020; 11: e559951. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.559951
(7) Johnson RJ, McCaul KD, Klein WMP. Risk involvement and risk perception among adolescents and young adults. J Behav Med. 2002; 25(1): 67-82. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1013541802282
(8) Dyregrov A, Fjærestad A, Gjestad R, Thimm J. Young people's risk perception and experience in connection with COVID-19. J Loss Trauma. 2021; 26(7): 597-610. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2020.1853974
(9) Yang XY, Gong RN, Sassine S, Morsa M, Tchogna AS, Drouin O, et al. Risk perception of COVID-19 infection and adherence to preventive measures among adolescents and young adults. Children. 2020; 7(12): e311. https://doi.org/10.3390/children7120311
(10) Vásquez G, Urtecho-Osorto ÓR, Agüero-Flores M, Díaz-Martínez MJ, Paguada RM, Varela MA, et al. Salud mental, confinamiento y preocupación por el coronavirus: un estudio cualitativo. Interam. J. Psychol. 2020; 54(2): e1333 https://doi.org/10.30849/ripijp.v54i2.1333
(11) Cortés-Álvarez NY, Piñeiro-Lamas R, Vuelvas-Olmos CR. Psychological effects and associated factors of COVID-19 in a Mexican sample. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2020; 14(3): 413-24. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2020.215
(12) Minozzi S, Saulle R, Amato L, Davoli M. Impatto del distanziamento sociale per covid-19 sui giovani: tipologia e qualità degli studi reperiti attraverso una revisione sistematica della letteratura. Recenti Prog Med. 2021; 112(5): e51-67. https://doi.org/10.1701/3608.35881
(13) Carvalho-Malta D, Saar-Gomes C, Berti-de Azevedo Barros M, Guimaraes-Lima M, Gomesda Silva A, Santos-de Magalhães Cardoso L, et al. The COVID-19 pandemic and changes in the lifestyles of Brazilian adolescents. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2021; 24: e210012. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-549720210012
(14) Nobari H, Fashi M, Eskandari A, Villafaina S, Murillo-Garcia Á, Pérez-Gómez J. Effect of COVID-19 on health-related quality of life in adolescents and children: A systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(9): e4563. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094563
(15) Salgado-Lévano AC. Investigación cualitativa: diseños, evaluación del rigor metodológico y retos. Liberabit. 2007; 13: 71-8. https://bit.ly/3eMqy86
(16) Schiek D. Das schriftliche interview in der qualitativen sozialforschung. Z Soziol. 2014; 43(5): 379-95. https://doi.org/10.1515/zfsoz-2014-0505
(17) Malagon-Maldonado G. Qualitative research in health design. HERD. 2014; 7(4): 120-34. https://doi.org/10.1177/193758671400700411
(18) James N, Busher H. Credibility, authenticity, and voice: Dilemmas in online interviewing. Qual Res. 2006; 6(3): 403-20. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794106065010
(19) Teddlie C, Yu F. Mixed methods sampling:. A typology with examples. J Mix Methods Res. 2007; 1(1): 77-100. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689806292430
(20) Nowell LS, Norris JM, White DE, Moules NJ. Thematic analysis: Striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria. Int J Qual Methods. 2017; 16(1): 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847
(21) Carter N, Bryant-Lukosius D, DiCenso A, Blythe J, Neville AJ. The use of triangulation in qualitative research. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2014; 41(5): 545-7. https://doi.org/10.1188/14.ONF.545-547
(22) Consejo Nacional de Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo Social. Informe de pobreza y evaluación 2020:. Estado de México. Ciudad de México: CONEVAL; 2020. https://bit.ly/3QFIf6k
(23) Secretaría de Salud del Estado de México. Casos positivos y defunciones a COVID-19 por municipio. Estado de México: Gobierno del Estado de México; 2021. https://bit.ly/3v6YSA7
(24) Observatorio Nacional Ciudadano. Laboratorio de Seguridad Ciudadana Edomex. Reporte trimestral sobre incidencia delictiva en el Estado de México. Tercer trimestre del 2020. México: Observatorio Nacional Ciudadano; 2020. https://bit.ly/3BhF4gJ
(25) Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía. Panorama sociodemográfico de México: Censo de Población y vivienda 2020. México: INEGI; 2021. https://bit.ly/3RFAZIJ
(26) Gittings L, Toska E, Medley S, Cluver L, Logie CH, Ralayo N, et al. 'Now my life is stuck!': Experiences of adolescents and young people during COVID-19 lockdown in South Africa. Glob Public Health. 2021; 16(6): 947-63. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2021.1899262
(27) Rosero-Bolaños AD, Carvajal-Guachavez JL, Bolaños EF. Percepción de riesgo frente al Covid-19 en adolescentes escolarizados colombianos. Boletín Redipe. 2021; 10(3): 376-92. https://bit.ly/3nUxiWw
(28) Comisión de Derechos Humanos de la Ciudad de México. #InfanciasEncerradas. Consulta a niños, niñas y adolescentes. Reporte del Estado de México. Ciudad de México: CDHCM; 2020. https://bit.ly/4521VtC
(29) Geiselhart K. Stigma and discrimination: Social encounters, identity and space; a concept derived from HIV and AIDS related research in the high prevalence country Botswana. Germany: GESIS Leibniz Institut für Sozialwissenschaften; 2009. https://bit.ly/3BcZkAt
(30) Goffman E. Estigma: la identidad deteriorada. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Amorrortu editores; 2006. https://bit.ly/3O9gQft
(31) Castro A, Farmer P. Understanding and addressing AIDS-related stigma: From anthropological theory to clinical practice in Haiti. Am J Public Health. 2005; 95(1): 53-9.https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2003.028563
(32) Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo. Encuesta de Percepción de Adolescentes y Jóvenes sobre la conflictividad en torno a COVID-19. Guatemala: PNUD; 2020. https://bit.ly/3oogiV0
(33) Douglas M, Wildavsky A. Risk and Culture: An essay on the selection of technological and environmental dangers. Los Angeles, California: University of California Press; 1982.https://bit.ly/455kDk0
(34) Beck U. Teoría de la sociedad del riesgo. En: Giddens A, Bauman Z, Luhmann N, Beck U. Las consecuencias perversas de la modernidad. Modernidad, contingencia y riesgo. Barcelona: Anthropos; 1996. https://bit.ly/3RWCGm0
(35) García-Acosta V. El riesgo como construcción social y la construcción social de riesgos. Desacatos. 2005; 19: 11-24. https://bit.ly/3Lab6hY
(36) Douglas M. La aceptabilidad del riesgo según las ciencias sociales. Barcelona: Paidós Ibérica; 1996. https://bit.ly/3OxnMzH
(37) Waselewski EA, Waselewski ME, Chang T. Needs and coping behaviors of youth in the u.s. during COVID-19. J Adolesc Health. 2020; 67(5): 649-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.07.043
(38) Jiao WY, Wang LN, Liu J, Fang SF, Jiao FY, Pettoello-Mantovani M, et al. Behavioral and emotional disorders in children during the COVID-19 epidemic. J Pediatr. 2020; 221: 264-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.03.013
(39) O’Sullivan K, Clark S, McGrane A, Rock N, Burke L, Boyle N, et al. A qualitative study of child and adolescent mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(3): e1062. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18031062
(40) Fundación Española de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental. Informe. Salud Mental en la Infancia y la Adolescencia en la era del COVID-19. Evidencias y Recomendaciones de las Asociaciones Profesionales de Psiquiatría y Psicología Clínica. Madrid: FEPSM; 2020. https://bit.ly/3OvOLvm
(41) Hermosillo-de la Torre AE, Arteaga-de Luna SM, Acevedo-Rojas DL, Juárez-Loya A, Jiménez-Tapia JA, Pedroza-Cabrera FJ, et al. Psychosocial correlates of suicidal behavior among adolescents under confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Aguascalientes,
Mexico: A cross-sectional population survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(9): e4977. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094977
(42) Velázquez-Aquino JD. Pandemia y vida cotidiana. Sobre la irrupción en el comportamiento social. Argumentos. 2021; 1(96): 43-59. https://doi.org/10.24275/uamxocdcsh/argumentos/2021961-02
(43) Li Q, Luo R, Zhang X, Meng G, Dai B, Liu X. Intolerance of COVID-19-related uncertainty and negative emotions among Chinese adolescents: A moderated mediation model of risk perception, social exclusion and perceived efficacy. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(6): e2864. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062864
(44) Hardy LJ. Connection, contagion, and COVID-19. Med Anthropol. 2020; 39(8): 655-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/01459740.2020.1814773
(45) Guessoum SB, Lachal J, Radjack R, Carretier E, Minassian S, Benoit L, et al. Adolescent psychiatric disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. Psychiatry Res. 2020; 291: e113264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113264
(46) Watters-Kallander S, Gordon R, Borzekowski DLG. "People will continue to suffer if the virus is around": A qualitative analysis of sub-saharan african children's experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(11): e5618. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115618
(47) Team V, Manderson L. How COVID-19 reveals structures of vulnerability. Med Anthropol. 2020; 39(8): 671-4. https://doi.org/10.1080/01459740.2020.1830281
(48) Singh S, Roy D, Sinha K, Parveen S, Sharma G, Joshi G. Impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on mental health of children and adolescents: A narrative review with recommendations. Psychiatry Res. 2020; 293: e113429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113429
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Enfermería Universitaria by Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México it is distributed under the License Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial - NoDerivatives 4.0 International
Accepted and published articles become open-access under the terms of the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license, which authorizes the reproduction and sharing without commercial purposes, provided the corresponding acknowledgments to their authors. Authors are allowed to manage a self-archive copy of the article’s published version so that they can open-access it in their personal or institutional web pages, and/or any other broad-diffusion space.
