Young after corona

Youth well-being between 2017 and 2022 and use of NP Onderwijsmiddelen [education resources] by schools

What is the state of mental health of our youth and their relationships with parents, friends, and classmates in 2022? How many young people experience pressure from schoolwork or are in touch via social media all day? In this study, we compare nationally representative groups of students in the last grade of elementary school (grade 8) and in secondary school, aged 11 to 16 years, in 2017, 2021 and 2022. Data from 2017 and 2021 come from the Dutch Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) survey. In addition, in 2022, we asked school leaders and students about the activities organized in the school years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 as part of the Nationaal Onderwijs Programma [National Education Program]. The relation between the use of these activities and changes in various indicators of well-being between 2021 and 2022 at the school level was then studied.

Simultaneously with the "Young after corona" study, research was conducted with students in grades 6 and 7 of elementary school. In this study, the same themes are addressed as in the 'Young after corona' survey: well-being, school perception and bullying, social relationships and social media use and gaming.

The research team

Staff from Utrecht University (Interdisciplinary Social Science, Faculty of Social Sciences; Gonneke Stevens (project leader) and Marlies Maes) and the Trimbos Institute (Tessa Scheffers-van Schayck, Marieke Rombouts, Annelot Zondervan, Frederiek Schouten and Saskia van Dorsselaer) conducted the research. Data collection and analyses were led by the Trimbos Institute, and the report was written by staff from both participating research organizations. The study was commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW).