School Closure and Adolescent Life Satisfaction During COVID-19 in 59 Countries: The Role of Family Support and Regional Disparity.

PURPOSE: Life satisfaction holds significant meaning for adolescents. This study aims to examine the association between school closures due to COVID-19 and adolescent life satisfaction, as well as the roles of family support and regional disparities in moderating this relationship.

METHODS

This study utilized data from the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment across 59 high-income and middle-income countries. Multilevel models were employed to analyze the relationship between school closures and adolescent life satisfaction. The potential moderating roles of family support and regional disparities were also explored.

RESULTS

The findings revealed a statistically significant negative association between school closures and adolescent life satisfaction. This relationship was weakened in the presence of higher levels of family support. No consistent variation in this association was observed between urban and rural settings. Additionally, residing in high-income countries was associated with a weaker negative link between school closures and life satisfaction, suggesting contextual differences in how this relationship manifests.

DISCUSSION: These results highlight the importance of family-level factors in shaping adolescent well-being during disruptions such as pandemics. Strengthening family support systems, particularly for parents with limited education, to provide comprehensive academic, emotional, and practical resources during school closures may be essential for fostering adolescent life satisfaction in crisis contexts.