Chinese adolescent research under COVID-19

Abstract

COVID-19 has created unprecedented consequences for adolescents and young adults in the contemporary world. Schools are suspended, cities are locked down, loved ones (such as grandpa and grandma) pass away, and there is not much certainty surrounding the pandemic, particularly regarding when it will be over. Obviously, there is a need to understand the health of adolescents and young adults under the shadow of COVID-19 as well as the factors affecting their well-being. Definitely, the articles based on Chinese adolescents enrich our understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on the health of young people [1, 2, 3]. There are several strengths of the Chinese articles that the Journal has published recently. First, the articles highlight the protective factors for young people facing adversity, including background sociodemographic factors (e.g., gender, age, urban vs. rural area), social support, physical activities, and daily routines. Second, large samples were used in these studies. Third, as Chinese people (1.44 billion) constitute approximately 18% of the world population (7.8 billion), Chinese findings would help to test the generalizability of Western theories and findings. As commented by Nielsen et al. [4], studies in human development are “WEIRD” research, with participants predominantly recruited from Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic societies.