Identifying strengths in response to social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic among pre-university students in Singapore: a thematic enquiry

ABSTRACT

Social isolation can have a negative impact on well-being, yet important strengths can emerge in adversity. Our aim was to explore how pre-university students in Singapore responded to the social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a thematic analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews with six pre-university students (three males and three females). Singaporean pre-university students found a “lack of face-to-face contact” (Theme 1) with friends challenging. However, they utilised “acceptance” (Theme 2), and “adaptability and resilience” (Theme 3) to cope with the changes associated with the COVID-19 restrictions. Educators, counsellors, parents and researchers may better support pre-university students’ well-being by discussing how to enhance the students’ strengths, rather than solely attempting to alleviate negative mental health outcomes.

KEYWORDS:

• Singapore
• pre-university students
• mental health
• social isolation
• resilience
• adaptability

Data availability statement

Raw data were generated via telephone and social media platforms. The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christine Rhodes

Dr Christine Rhodes was most recently a lecturer in counselling and psychotherapy at the University of Derby online learning and is currently employed as an internationally certified addictions counsellor, certified sex addiction therapist and a board member of ATSAC, the Association for the Treatment of Sex Addiction and Compulsivity. Her research interests include addictions, the family system and innovative treatment modalities.

Yasuhiro Kotera

Dr Yasuhiro Kotera is an Associate Professor for mental health at the University of Nottingham, Medicine and Health Sciences, UK. He is an Accredited Psychotherapist at the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. His research interests include mental health, self-compassion and cross-cultural psychology.

HongIan Lim

HongIan Lim was a student at the Ruthin School in Wales at the time of writing and has interests in mental health, young adults and speech therapy. He is currently serving in the Singapore National Service.