The COVID-related learning loss is not disputable – multiple studies have shown that learning loss is proportional to school closure and may equal in some countries even more a year of learning (Jakubowski et al. 2023). Still not many studies investigated non-cognitive losses. This paper provides evidence on this topic by analysing data coming from the first international large scale assessments implemented after the outbreak of COVID-19, focusing on the well-being and attitudes of students and how the pandemic has impacted them. Our results provide robust evidence that student attitudes have changed between before and after the pandemic, mostly as a result of the change in their relationship with their skills and their demographics, including socioeconomic background.