Table 2.

Main themes.

Theme	Summary
Local assets for connectivity	Online platforms were key to young people’s social connectedness but were paradoxically described as draining and isolating over the lockdowns.
Loss of social capital	Young people grew distant from their peripheral social network yet strengthened their relationship with inner friendship circles.
Worsening mental health	All participants reported a deterioration of their mental wellbeing over the lockdowns, but few sought appropriate support.

Main themes emerging from the fifteen qualitative interviews, briefly summarised.