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Experiencing the COVID-19 Emergency: Age-Related Disequilibrating Event for Identity

Author

Listed:
  • Tiziana Di Palma

    (Department of Humanities, University of Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy)

  • Luca Fusco

    (Department of Humanities, University of Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy)

  • Luigia Simona Sica

    (Department of Humanities, University of Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy)

  • Laura Aleni Sestito

    (Department of Humanities, University of Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy)

Abstract

The experience linked to the COVID-19 emergency constituted a turning point in the biography of most Italians. The suspension of usual activities, the redefinition of life contexts and the restriction of relationships have opened up wide spaces and time for thinking and reflecting on oneself, which may have triggered processes of redefinition of personal identity. The general aim of this study was to explore the impact of pandemic on daily life in the life span, in order to support the hypothesis that the pandemic experience could be considered a disequilibrating life-event and a turning point in the biography of most Italians. A mixed research approach was adopted, with 14 closed and open questions created ad hoc. 41 participants (87% women, average age 40.71), resident in the Campania region, in southern Italy, responded to the online written interview. The data were analyzed by two independent coders, using categorical content analysis with a top-down approach. Membership of the different age groups (young adults, adults, elderly) was assessed as a comparison variable. Findings qualify pandemic-related experiences as a disequilibrating life event, potentially capable of activating, alongside emotionally dense experiences, adaptive and functional resources for identity reconsideration, with differences being age based. The dimensions of change, the affective dimensions, the resources and the areas of risk identified, allowed us to identify three different clusters, showing a differentiation according to age groups, which identifies young adults and the elderly as the subjects most at risk.

Suggested Citation

  • Tiziana Di Palma & Luca Fusco & Luigia Simona Sica & Laura Aleni Sestito, 2022. "Experiencing the COVID-19 Emergency: Age-Related Disequilibrating Event for Identity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-9, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:23:p:15708-:d:984313
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Martin Sanchez-Gomez & Gabriele Giorgi & Georgia Libera Finstad & Flavio Urbini & Giulia Foti & Nicola Mucci & Salvatore Zaffina & José M. León-Perez, 2021. "COVID-19 Pandemic as a Traumatic Event and Its Associations with Fear and Mental Health: A Cognitive-Activation Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-14, July.
    2. Carlos-María Alcover & Fernando Rodríguez & Yolanda Pastor & Helena Thomas & Mayelin Rey & José Luis del Barrio, 2020. "Group Membership and Social and Personal Identities as Psychosocial Coping Resources to Psychological Consequences of the COVID-19 Confinement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Freya M Shearer & Robert Moss & Jodie McVernon & Joshua V Ross & James M McCaw, 2020. "Infectious disease pandemic planning and response: Incorporating decision analysis," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(1), pages 1-12, January.
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