Trends in Sense of Belonging During Challenging Times for Adolescents and Young Adults

• In Event: Exploring the Production of Well-Being for and by Adolescents

Abstract

Adolescents and young adults currently pursuing education have experienced multiple crises and disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, countless instances of civil and racial unrest, and inequitable policies and racist rhetoric that have impacted their relationship with their education and important agents in their environments. We explored trends in students’ sense of belonging across time, following two cohorts of adolescents who navigated K-12 education (a) prior to the pandemic and major civil and racial unrest events (2013-2019), and (b) during the pandemic and during and after the major civil and racial unrest events (2016-2022). We found preliminary evidence that may help educational researchers better understand the impact of these crises and events on adolescent and young adults’ educational outcomes.

Authors

• Tai Tri Do, University of Minnesota

• Michael C. Rodriguez, University of Minnesota

• Rik Lamm, Bloomington Public Schools