Emerging Adults during the Pandemic: The Experiences of Generation Z in the Context of Self-Determination Theory

Abstract The COVID-19 Pandemic is associated with many radical changes in the lives of young adults. Their developmental and generational characteristics would likely affect their experiences of Pandemic. This study explores their experiences in the context of school, family, and friendship during the Pandemic. The sample consisted of 23 college students. Qualitative data were collected online and analyzed with the thematic analysis method. The results showed that their experiences in the school context resulted in seven themes: difficulties with online classes, benefits, negative mood, coping strategies, loss of socialization opportunities at school, return to daily life, and physical conditions. The themes in the family context were the need for autonomy, increasing conflict, improved family relationships, and no change. Finally, in the friendship context, the themes of losses, coping strategies, emotions, no change, and gains emerged. Results were discussed in terms of the self-determination perspective and generational characteristics of the sample.