Meanings of social isolation for young Brazilians during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has left a high number of infected and dead in the world, where several social measures have been imposed on the population, especially social isolation. Objective: Given this scenario, based on Vygotsky's socio-historical theory, this original article aimed to identify the meanings of social isolation in the COVID-19 pandemic for Brazilian youth. Method: A survey was carried out, with the participation of 571 young Brazilians, women and men aged between 18 and 25, who answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Free Word Association Method (FWAM), analyzed with the help of IRaMuTeQ. Results: The results showed that virtualized socialization is insufficient for the social demand of young people and that their routine was transformed with the insertion of obligations and leisure primarily in the home environment. Still, young people brought their resignifications in this period, in the face of collective responsibility. Conclusions: It is concluded that isolation brought negative consequences on relationships and mental health of young people, but also a greater social awareness.