“Losing Interest in Life Was Not for Me”: The Life Experiences of Adolescents With Disabilities in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of adolescents with disabilities, utilizing an ecological approach. The investigation aims to comprehend the experiences of these individuals in family, society, education, and individual dimensions throughout the pandemic. This study carried out with a qualitative research method, used the Ecological Approach and phenomenological design and focused on mentally disabled, physically disabled and deaf adolescents in Turkey. This research has an “exploratory” feature regarding the method used and the findings obtained. Twenty face-to-face interviews were conducted, employing semi-structured questionnaires and Maxqda (2020) software for data analysis. The results revealed four themes and nine categories, elucidating the challenges faced by adolescents with disabilities during the pandemic. These encompassed Individual Factors, Familial Factors, Educational Factors and Social Factors. The study underscored that the COVID-19 process significantly impacted adolescents with disabilities in bio-psycho-social terms. Furthermore, coping mechanisms varied based on ecological factors and motivation levels. The findings provide valuable insights for future research, addressing a literature gap and emphasizing the need for tailored support systems to mitigate the challenges faced by adolescents with disabilities during and post the COVID-19 era.