The “new normal” caused by Corona has apparently already arrived among young people in the district. At least, a survey now presented suggests this interpretation. More than two-thirds of those surveyed between the ages of ten and 21 said they had “learned to live with Corona”. However, one fifth of the children and adolescents also stated that they felt psychologically stressed or lonely.
A total of 21 percent of those surveyed said they felt comfortable and had no impairments from Corona. Since multiple answers were possible for this question, it is likely that there is overlap with the 70 percent who stated that they had come to terms with the situation. There are probably similar ones with “I look at my future with worries and fears”, which at least 15 percent said yes, the 21 percent who felt psychologically stressed or lonely, and the six percent who stated that they had been up for financial reasons since Corona having to give up a lot.
Most important are friends and family
Most respondents stated that they had support from parents, teachers or youth work representatives, for example, if they were not doing well. This is always the case for 57 percent, mostly for 27 percent and sometimes the case for 12 percent. Only four percent stated that they had no contact person for their problems. When asked what is most important in the current situation, most mentioned their friends and family, meeting other people and that everyone is fine. But school and sport were also frequently mentioned.
It is the second student survey since the outbreak of the pandemic, last year the district had already done one on the subject of home schooling. At that time, however, it was more about technical issues, such as whether there were enough devices and a usable Internet connection. At that time, the responsible district council committee had suggested the follow-up survey, which should focus more on personal circumstances.
This took place last autumn in the first three months of the new school year and in cooperation with the district youth council. 505 young people took part, and not all of them answered all the questions. Most of them still go to school, only ten percent do not. High school students make up the largest proportion at 40 percent, 26 percent of those surveyed attend a middle school and 16 percent a junior high school. A further seven percent each stated that they went to vocational school or special school.
The study is not representative
The age structure of the interviewees is relatively well mixed, with the youngest and oldest cohorts being slightly less represented, with the 12 to 17 year olds apparently showing the greatest interest. At 55 percent, girls also took part somewhat more than boys. With the exception of Emmering, all district municipalities are represented as the place of residence of the respondents. The district town gave the most with twelve percent, followed by Markt Schwaben and Forstinning with around 9.5 percent each and Grafing with nine percent. Around 7.5 percent of those surveyed live in Anzing, followed by the second-largest municipality of Poing and Kirchseeon with just over six percent. Around 5.9 percent of those surveyed gave the largest district municipality of Vaterstetten as their place of residence, and there are just as many from Glonn. Aßling and Zorneding are each at just under five percent.
The survey is expressly not representative, so Karolina Pfont, youth welfare planner in the district office, now emphasized in the committee. However, one can read a general mood and trends about what is important for young people in the current situation.
Precisely because the study is not representative, “I warn against saying that it’s not all that bad,” said Green district councilor Johannes von der Forst. After all, there are also enough studies that say exactly the opposite, namely that many young people have problems in the pandemic. Florian Robida from the youth welfare office also saw no reason to give the all-clear: “I have to say that I was surprised by the frequent answer, ‘It’s okay’.” However, it is quite possible “that those who do not fit have not participated in such a survey”. And four percent would have stated that they would never be able to talk to anyone about their problems, “we have to look at that, everyone together”.