Social interaction experiences of adolescences aged 14-18 during COVID-19 pandemic

This study aims to understand how the new normal arisen from COVID-19 pandemic and resulting social isolation play a role in the social interaction experiences of the adolescents aged 14 to 18. The experience of the spending more time with family members, prolonged separation from peers, and online education have created an unprecedented phenomenon for adolescents. In this study, thirty-five adolescent participants, 25 women and 10 men, were interviewed. Each one was asked to describe how the pandemic played a role in social interaction networks in the context of family members, peers, and teachers. As a result, two main subjects are determined: Adolescents' social interaction and anxiety experiences. The social interaction experiences differ according to adolescents' the genders, ages, anxiety levels, school types, and parents' attitudes. Furthermore, participants express prominently health, educational, and social anxiety.