Background:

Adolescence is a period of significant biological, psychological and social changes. Characterized by constant emotional conflicts and cycles of disorganization-reorganization of the identity, it is a phase of enormous vulnerability to the circumstances of the surrounding environment that will influence the future of the emerging adult: identity development and certainty about oneself is closely related to better functioning in multiple domains. The COVID-19 pandemic and the social isolation adopted as a public health measure had a significant impact on the lives of adolescents: on routines, sleep, peer relationships, and school performance, adding challenges to the already complex quotidian.

Objectives:

This review describes the pandemic's impact in adolescents' daily routines, sleep, screen use, academic life, physical activity, relationships, and behaviors assumed by adolescents in a family context.

Methods:

The authors performed a literature narrative overview synthesizing the relevant findings from searches on Pubmed® and Google Scholar®

Development/Conclusion:

Individual characteristics and family relationships are fundamental in the capability of adolescents to deal cope with the adversity imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of restrictive measures in this population should be taken into account by political and public health authorities when instituting preventive measures of confinement and lockdown to mitigate social isolation and allow developing adaptive strategies during adolescence

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