Young people are still 'disastrously' affected by Covid, studies show

Young people have been "disastrously" affected by the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, according to two pieces of research that show happiness and confidence have plunged to an all-time low.

Both studies detail the wideranging ways in which young people continue to suffer. Hardships include poorer mental and physical health, as well as extensive learning loss that experts say will undoubtedly affect their futures.

"While many see the pandemic as being over, the after-effects are far from over for our country's youngsters, particularly those from less well-off households," said Sir Peter Lampl, the founder and chair of the Sutton Trust, which co-led one of the research projects with University College London that involved 13,000 respondents.

"It's abundantly clear the pandemic is continuing to deeply affect the lives of young people," he added.

The findings echo the concerns expressed in the second part of the Guardian's Covid generation series, published yesterday, in which young people analyse how the pandemic is affecting their lives and their plans for the future 18 months on from the end of the third national lockdown.