The coronavirus pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for people across the lifespan, including youth, and these challenges were likely more pronounced for those living with poverty and health inequities. American Indian/Alaskan Natives (AI/ANs) were one of the highest-risk racial/ethnic groups for health disparities, and they were a particularly vulnerable group for adverse health and socioeconomic impacts of the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Only one prior study to date had retrospectively assessed the long-term psychosocial impact of quarantine on youth and families following an infectious disease outbreak (H1N1 or SARS), and none had assessed the impact on youth in the midst of the pandemic.

AI/AN adolescents experienced disproportionately high rates of comorbidities known to exacerbate the negative effects of the novel coronavirus, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, as well as behavioral health problems, including depression and alcohol and other drug (AOD) use problems, which were likely exacerbated during stay-at-home orders. This project responded to NOT MD-20-019 Notice of Special Interest: Competitive and Administrative Supplements for the Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on Minority Health and Health Disparities.