When Earthquakes Meet COVID-19 Pandemic: The Effects of Simultaneous Large-scale Crises on Psychological Functioning of Adolescents in the Final Year of Upper Secondary Education

Abstract

A unique situation in which Croatia was struck in 2020 with a series of strong earthquakes during the period of the global COVID-19 pandemic allowed for the exploration of simultaneous effects of two large-scale crises on the adolescents’ psychological functioning. Faced with the adversity of crises, most adolescents can cope with one or two risk factors in their lives without significant detrimental consequences. The accumulation of risk factors increases the chance for experiencing psychological distress especially for adolescents who are due to their developmental phase more vulnerable to such traumatic events. Focusing on pupils in the final grade of upper-secondary education, the study examines the extent to which the perceived effects of simultaneous large-scale crises are related to adolescent positive psychological functioning (life satisfaction, well-being, resilience and optimism). Furthermore, it provides insights into the role of