Research notes

Browse some of the latest studies on the social impacts of (and responses to) COVID-19

The International Public Policy Observatory holds weekly ‘newsroom’ meetings at which all of our UK and global partner organisations can highlight notable new research relating to the social impacts of, and policy responses to, COVID-19. A selection of these ‘research notes’ can be browsed below.

And if you are an academic working on COVID-related social sciences research that spans any of our broad topic areas (education, mental health, Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, vulnerable communities, housing, care and online life), we’re equally keen to hear about your work. Simply fill in this form and we will be in touch soon.

  1. An observational cohort study of longitudinal impacts on frailty and well-being of COVID-19 lockdowns in older adults in England and Spain

    An observational cohort study of longitudinal impacts on frailty and well-being of COVID-19 lockdowns in older adults in England and Spain

    Research from Lancaster University and the University of Valencia by Ian Garner and colleagues examines the impact of the COVID lockdowns on the health of older adults in England and Spain (January 2022) To reduce the spread of COVID-19, governments initiated lockdowns, limiting mobility and social interaction of populations. Lockdown is linked to health issues, yet the full impact on health remains unknown, particularly in more vulnerable groups. This study examined the impact on frailty and outcomes in high and low COVID-19 risk older adults. We examined health-related behaviours and support resources participants used…

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  2. Subject to Change: Setting a New Direction for Education and Learning

    Subject to Change: Setting a New Direction for Education and Learning

    Listening to and empowering young people and the public to set a new direction for education and learning A new report from Big Change and the Institute for Public Policy Research by Caireen Goddard, Harry Quilter-Pinner and Kike Agunbiade sets out the findings of research into the public’s views on the future of education and learning. Through thousands of conversations they have found that a consensus is starting to emerge. Young people, parents, teachers and employers all agree that now is the time to rethink what education is really for, how young people…

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  3. The Impact of COVID-19 on Young People’s Mental Health in the UK: Key Insights from Social Media Using Online Ethnography

    The Impact of COVID-19 on Young People’s Mental Health in the UK: Key Insights from Social Media Using Online Ethnography

    Rachel Winter and Anna Lavis, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (January 2022) There is increasing evidence of the psychological impact of COVID-19 on various population groups, with concern particularly focused on young people’s mental health. However, few papers have engaged with the views of young people themselves. We present findings from a study into young people’s discussions on social media about the impact of COVID-19 on their mental health. Real-time, multi-platform online ethnography was used to collect social media posts by young people in the United Kingdom (UK), March 2020–March 2021, 1033 original…

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  4. Growing up in the Covid-19 pandemic: An evidence review of the impact of pandemic life on physical development in the early years

    Growing up in the Covid-19 pandemic: An evidence review of the impact of pandemic life on physical development in the early years

    Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) report by Max Stanford, Pippa Davie and James Mulcahy (Nov 2021) This report is a brief review of emerging international and UK evidence on seven key factors associated with children’s early physical health and development, and the extent to which the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic (such as lockdowns and social distancing) have impacted on these factors and affected children’s early physical development, including children from low-income and UK ethnic minority families.

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