Adolescent mental health and social inequality in the aftermath of COVID-19 in Bogota, Colombia: a qualitative study using a critical ecological model.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Adolescence is a stage of life characterised by significant biological, social, and emotional changes, making it a particularly challenging period for mental health. Young people face these challenges within environments shaped by social, cultural, and economic dynamics, often rooted in structural inequality. In urban contexts such as the megacity of Bogotá, many adolescents live in conditions of social inequality. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified pre-existing issues and introduced new challenges to adolescent mental health. This study explores the mental health of adolescents living in an urban setting characterised by social inequality, including both the benefits and challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Using a qualitative approach, direct

SUBMITTER: Sanchez-Castro JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12849467 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature