Medium-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the life contexts and personal resources of vulnerable young people

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has led people to experience significant personal and professional challenges. Although many studies were carried out during the pandemic and in the short term, few of them have focused on medium-term impacts. This article raises awareness on the situation of vulnerable young people and discusses the role of contexts and psychological resources in mitigating the detrimental effects of this pandemic. Twenty-three young people aged 18 to 25 registered at a career center in France took part in a semistructured interview. Thematic content analysis reveals an impact on some psychological processes, leading to four types of coping strategies. It shows that biographical disruptions occur in three successive stages. The discussion refers to a career counseling intervention program with a focus on sustainability.