Social media, other opportunities for social support, and resilience of adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

My secondary study is a sub-study of the Resilient Youth in Stressed Environment-Russia and South Africa (RYSE-RuSA) research project. The RYSE-RuSA project aims to identify the protective factors that enhance the capacity of young people to adapt constructively when their communities are experiencing multiple challenges. The purpose of my secondary study of limited scope was to explore how social media and other opportunities for social support have supported the resilience of school-attending adolescents living in a resource-constrained environment (Zamdela) during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the purposes of my study and following the Social-Ecological Theory of Resilience (which framed my study), resilience in the face of significant adversity can be described as one’s ability to navigate their way to the psychological, social, cultural and physical resources that support their wellbeing, as well as their ability to negotiate for these resources to be provided in meaningful ways. To fulfil the aforementioned purpose, I conducted a qualitative, exploratory study using a secondary analysis design. The participants included 43 adolescents aged 15 to 22 years old, who lived in Zamdela, were comfortable speaking English and were part of the RYSE-RuSA study. The primary data were generated by the participants using arts-based activities, such as the draw-and-write methodology. I used deductive thematic analysis to re-analyse the RYSE-RuSA data that I deselected. The following themes emerged from the findings that appeared to have supported the resilience of adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: electronic communication facilitates emotional and informational support; positive relationships facilitate emotional, informational and instrumental support; and faith-based activities facilitate emotional and informational support. My study highlights the social-ecological theory of resilience and contributes insights into how social media and other forms of social support such as positive relationships and faith-based activities supported adolescents’ resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.