Experiences of Compassion and COVID-19 Lockdown in Young People

This thesis portfolio comprises three parts:Part One: Systematic Literature ReviewA systematic literature review of the experiences of UK secondary school children and how the COVID-19 lockdowns have impacted their wellbeing. The review identified seven studies and completed a narrative synthesis which identified two themes; ‘Mental Health and Mental Wellbeing’ and ‘The Effect on Skills for the Future and Need for Support’. The narrative which developed from the synthesis summarised some potential long-term impacts and effects of this group after lockdowns and the return to school. These were discussed in the context of clinical implications for practice and schooling settings, as well as recommendations for future research.Part Two: Empirical PaperAn empirical paper exploring how UK university students experience the flows of compassion following the COVID-19 pandemic. The study focused on the cohort attending Year 11 in the academic year 2019-2020 who did not complete their GCSE exams. Semi-structured interviews were completed with 11 participants and reflexive thematic analysis was used to develop themes and create narrative and meaning from the data. The study found two main themes; ‘Disruption at a Pivotal Point in Life’ and ‘Heightened Awareness of Mental Health’. Themes and data provide insight into the ongoing challenges faced by this cohort. Overall, participants found it easier to engage in the flow of giving compassion to others, whilst being able to understand and recognise the importance of self-care and self-compassion, as well as receiving compassion from others. These findings have clinical implications for practice in mental health services and among universities and their student support services.Part Three comprises the AppendicesThe appendices related to both the systematic literature review and empirical paper; and includes reflective and epistemological statements.