Lived experiences of racialized emerging adults in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: ‘we still have to adapt and survive because, after all, we must live’

Early research has found that the COVID-19 pandemic and its mitigation strategies disproportionately affected young adults’ mental health. This paper examines how racialized emerging adults in Peel Region, Canada experienced pandemic lockdowns through the lens of their intersecting identities. Emerging Adulthood Theory conceptualizes ages 18-29 as a period of identity exploration and instability, while an Intersectionality framework highlights how ethnicity, age, and immigration status may shape access to resources and exposure to risk. Semi-structured interviews (n = 18) were conducted with young adults aged 18-29 from October to December 2021, focusing on employment, healthcare access, health, and social support. Four themes were developed using thematic analysis. Participants consistently reported declining mental health linked to disrupted life transitions. Recent immigrants faced compounded economic and social barriers as they navigated pandemic lockdowns. Despite this, young people infrequently reported accessing mental health services and maintained optimism about their futures. Our findings demonstrate that an intersectionality framework is a valuable lens to investigate the experiences of racialized young adults. It is critical to continue to examine the impacts of the pandemic on emerging adults’ life trajectories to inform the development of more accessible, culturally responsive structural and mental health supports.