Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

April 16, 2021

Safely Social: Promoting and Sustaining Adolescent Engagement in Social Distancing During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  • Adolescents motivated by preventing others from getting sick were more likely to engage in physical distancing to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission, according to over 6,000 assessments from a national sample of US adolescents (n=444, aged 13-18 years). Daily social support from friends, connectedness with friends via technology, and practical knowledge on preventing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 predicted participants’ same- and next-day engagement with physical distancing. Responses were collected using focus group and daily-diary approaches during a 2-week period at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020).

Wang et al. (Apr 12, 2021). Safely Social: Promoting and Sustaining Adolescent Engagement in Social Distancing During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Adolescent Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.03.014