Background: We have obtained knowledge of how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the lives of adolescents immediately after the pandemic arrived in Norway. However, we know little about adolescents' experiences from the pandemic over time, and whether sociodemographic factors and infection rates at the municipality level play a role.
Material and method: We used questionnaire data from 106 448 lower and upper secondary school pupils who took part in the Ungdata survey in 167 municipalities in the spring of 2021 (response rate 76 %). The adolescents' responses regarding their experiences during the pandemic were collated with statistics on infection rates at the municipality level. We performed a Chi-square test and multilevel analyses to investigate predictors of adolescents' experiences.
Results: A total of 49 % responded that the COVID-19 pandemic affected their lives in a partly or very negative direction. Many reported negative changes in peer relationships, family relationships and mental health, but some also reported positive changes. Girls, older adolescents, those with a low socioeconomic background and those living in municipalities with a higher prevalence of infection reported more negative consequences.
Interpretation: Most adolescents reported that the pandemic has had more negative than positive consequences. Girls, older adolescents, those with a low socioeconomic background and those living in municipalities with a higher rate of infection may be especially affected by the negative effects of the pandemic.