While there is ample evidence of the decline in mental health among youth during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, less is known about the determinants of recovery, which is the focus of this study. Drawing on a stress process framework, this study examines the associations of changes in direct, pandemic-related, and indirect, lockdown-related stressors with life satisfaction. A novel representative, longitudinal sample of British 16–25-year-olds is used, drawing on 6 data collections between February 2021 to May 2022 (N = 6000, 51% female, 24% ethnic minority, 46% in work, 35% with higher education). Using linear fixed-effects regression models, the findings suggest a substantial improvement in life satisfaction among youth. An increasing frequency of social contacts, receding worries about career prospects and job skills learning contributed significantly to increases in life satisfaction, whereas direct, health-related COVID-19 stressors did not affect life satisfaction. Sub-group analysis suggests that women’s, adolescents’, and students’ life satisfaction responded more strongly to the stressors considered in this study. The findings highlight the positive effects of less stringent lockdown restrictions, economic recovery, and opportunities for job skills learning on youth’s happiness.

尽管有充分的证据表明在 COVID-19 大流行开始期间青少年的心理健康状况有所下降，但人们对恢复的决定因素知之甚少，而这正是本研究的重点。本研究利用压力过程框架，检验了直接、大流行相关和间接、与封锁相关的压力源的变化与生活满意度之间的关联。使用了具有代表性的英国 16-25 岁纵向样本，利用 2021 年 2 月至 2022 年 5 月期间收集的 6 个数据（N = 6000，51% 女性，24% 少数民族，46% 在工作，35%受过高等教育）。使用线性固定效应回归模型，研究结果表明青年的生活满意度显着提高。社会交往的频率越来越高，对职业前景和工作技能学习的担忧消退显着提高了生活满意度，而直接的、与健康相关的 COVID-19 压力源并未影响生活满意度。亚组分析表明，女性、青少年和学生的生活满意度对本研究中考虑的压力源反应更强烈。调查结果强调了不那么严格的封锁限制、经济复苏和工作技能学习机会对青年幸福感的积极影响。