Getting Through the Crisis Together: Do Friendships Contribute to University Students’ Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Abstract

Social contacts and social support represent resources that contribute to resilience. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated measures, including contact restrictions, posed challenges for young adults’ social networks, in particular for their friendships. Employing a mixed-method approach, we investigated the pandemic’s effects on friendships and their role in successfully navigating the crisis. We combined a qualitative approach based on narratives and in-depth interviews and a quantitative approach based on online surveys focusing on university students in Austria. Longitudinal data collections allowed investigating changes and developments as the pandemic progressed. Results indicate profound challenges for participants’ friendships and difficulties in both building new and maintaining existing friendships. This also impaired the provision of social support by friends, scattering participants’ social resources and diminishing their resilience rather than strengthening it. Altogether, the results of this longitudinal study suggest a lasting negative effect of the pandemic on friendships for students.

Comprehensive examination of support needs and mental well-being: a mixed-method study of the Austrian general population in times of crisis

“…These findings align with similar results obtained by Haider et al ( 49 ) where Austrian students expressed a desire to talk to someone without specialized expertise, including friends and family. Social contacts and support play a pivotal role during times of stress, serving as essential resources contributing to resilience ( 73 ). A qualitative online survey conducted by Schaffler et al ( 38 ) in December 2020 revealed that, especially in the initial year of the COVID-19 pandemic, social contacts were the primary source of support.…”

“…While the present dataset also emphasized the importance of social contacts as a main source of support ( 48 ), it is noteworthy that the percentage of individuals relying on social contacts declined from 46% in 2020/21 to 36.2% in 2022. Changes and challenges in friendships were evaluated by Kulcar et al ( 73 ) highlighting the difficulty of forming new acquaintances during the COVID-19 pandemic and a decrease in the number of relationships as the pandemic persisted. Consequently, building and maintaining friendships were negatively affected during this period ( 73 ).…”

“…Changes and challenges in friendships were evaluated by Kulcar et al ( 73 ) highlighting the difficulty of forming new acquaintances during the COVID-19 pandemic and a decrease in the number of relationships as the pandemic persisted. Consequently, building and maintaining friendships were negatively affected during this period ( 73 ). Schaffler et al ( 38 ) found that social support as well as recreational activities and distractions, played a crucial role.…”

Social Anxiety in University Students: Towards an Intentional Life-Skills Based Prevention Model

“…A large portion of the existing research examines social anxiety among university students. Many university students had high levels of social anxiety prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, hereafter referred to as "the pandemic" 10,11,12,13,14 . Archbell and Coplan 15 examined the link between social anxiety in university students, academic communication and student experiences prior to the pandemic.…”

“…Among the results, social anxiety was negatively correlated to communication with professors, student experiences and socio-emotional functioning 14 . Research during the pandemic found that young adults were especially vulnerable to the mental health impacts of the pandemic 11,13,14,16 . The prolonged period of lockdown and social isolation increased the rates of social anxiety among university students 7,16 .…”