| By: |
Sandner, Malte (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg);
Patzina, Alexander (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg);
Anger, Silke (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg);
Bernhard, Sarah (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg);
Dietrich, Hans (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg) |
| Abstract: |
This study examines the immediate and intermediate effects of the COVID-19
pandemic on the well-being of two high school graduation cohorts (2020 and
2021). We also investigate how changes in well-being at the transition to
post-secondary education affect educational plans and outcomes. Our unique
panel data contain prospective survey information on three dimensions of well-
being: mental health problems, self-rated health, and life satisfaction for
3,697 students. Data is collected several months before (fall 2019), shortly
before and soon after (spring 2020), and several months after (fall/winter
2020/21) the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applying
difference-in-differences designs, random effect growth curve models, and
linear regression models, we find that school closures had a positive
immediate effect on students' wellbeing. Over the course of the pandemic,
however, well-being strongly declined, mainly concentrated among the 2021
graduation cohort. Finally, we show that a strong decline in mental health is
associated with changes in educational and career plans and transition
outcomes. As adverse life experiences in adolescence are likely to accumulate
over the life course, this study is the first to exhibit potential
long-lasting negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on education and
careers of young individuals. |
| Keywords: |
COVID-19, high school graduates, mental and physical well-being, life satisfaction, school-to-work transition |
| JEL: |
I21 I18 J24 |
| Date: |
2021–10 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14797&r= |