"It's quite a dark, long journey to the light at the end of the tunnel": a qualitative study of children's experiences of living with Long COVID.

Authors

Camille Alexis-Garsee, Nicola Payne

Published in

Psychology & health. Pages 1-27. Oct 13, 2026. Epub Oct 13, 2026.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on global health, with some individuals experiencing long-term health effects known as Long COVID. This study explored the lived experiences of children with Long COVID, providing further insight into the impacts and needs within this group.
Semi-structured interviews, facilitated by children's drawings, were conducted with 15 children. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.
Four themes were identified: (1) 'I feel completely different': the physical and emotional burden of Long COVID (2) 'Like the buzz of people speaking and I can't concentrate': education challenges created by Long COVID, (3) 'I'm on my third friend group since I've had COVID': disrupted relationships and fractured connections and (4) 'What can I do now to get myself better?': managing life with Long COVID. These findings reveal a narrative of loss and change during key developmental periods.
This research illustrates the life-altering impact of Long COVID on children across many domains. Despite these challenges children were hopeful for the future. A multi-faceted approach to management is needed, including utilising technology to aid self-management strategies such as pacing and to support social connection, as well as psychological support and school adjustments.

PMID:
42867214
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 14 Oct 2026.

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