Adolescents have to cope with several challenges and restrictions due to the COVID-19
pandemic, with many of those incongruent with the typical developmental tasks of adolescent
age. Some adolescents might be particularly vulnerable in this situation, including
those who are deprived of psychological, social or health care services and/or are
exposed to abuse or neglect in their home environment. The aims of the current international
multicentre follow-up study are to: 1. collect data on the mental health and quality
of life of adolescents during and after the pandemic; 2. improve their mental health
by providing an online prevention program that addresses their actual needs; 3. accelerate
the development of culturally adapted prevention programs by involving an international
team, and 4. to contribute to adequate preparation for any potentially occurring,
similar situationin the future.Participants aged 11-18 years and their parents/caregivers
from diff erent parts of Europe and non-European countries are recruited online. Data
are collected regularly in a follow-up study by means of structured self-administered
online questionnaires on adolescents' mental health, quality of life and current attitudes
and needs. The baseline data collection was in March 2020 at first restrictions of
the COVID pandemic in Europe. It is followed up several times (at the beginning weekly,
later monthly, bi-monthly, three-monthly) to study changes in mental health, quality
of life and attitudes of children and adolescents during the coronavirus disease pandemic.
Data were collected by means of structured questionnaires (see below). The time frame
of the study is set to one year from study start, March 2021. The last data collection
was done in December 2020. The prevention program is developed and provided based
on continuously analysed incoming data.Prevention based on the results of the study
is expected to contribute to maintaining adolescents' mental health, improve their
quality of life, increase their and their environment's cooperation with the necessary
restrictions during the pandemic, and to make reintegration easier once the restrictions
are over. Furthermore, the study has the potential to inform on the wellbeing of children
and adolescents in extreme situations in general, thus contribute to future preventive
measures and policymaking. Implications and Contribution: The proposed international
online follow-up study is expected to provide scientifi c evidence for 1. possible
changes in the mental health and quality of life of adolescents during and after a
pandemic situation, 2. the eff ectiveness of a culturally adapted prevention program
developed to address challenges associated with these changes.
