1. Using peer-ethnography to explore the health and well-being of college students affected by COVID-19.
- Author
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Teti, Michelle, Myroniuk, Tyler W., Kirksey, Grace, Pratt, Mariah, and Schatz, Enid
- Subjects
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AFFINITY groups , *SAFETY , *THOUGHT & thinking , *RISK-taking behavior , *MEDICAL masks , *PSYCHOLOGY of college students , *COVID-19 , *DENIAL (Psychology) , *CONVALESCENCE , *CONVERSATION , *LEADERSHIP , *HEALTH status indicators , *VACUUM , *MEDICAL protocols , *HARM reduction , *ETHNOLOGY research , *RISK assessment , *HEALTH , *INTERPROFESSIONAL relations , *FIELD notes (Science) , *RESEARCH funding , *STUDENT attitudes , *THEMATIC analysis , *MISINFORMATION , *EMOTIONS - Abstract
Purpose: COVID-19 continues to infect and affect college-aged youth. We lack information about how students experienced the pandemic day-to-day and what they need for recovery, from their own perspectives. This study employed peer ethnography to explore student's insights for current and future prevention and care. Methods: A team of eight students were trained as peer ethnographers to observe and record conversations with their peers in 15-minute increments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transcripts of 200 conversations were collated and analysed via theme analysis to identify patterns. Results: Student conversations revealed dichotomous perspectives about COVID-19. Some students prioritized safety, captured via three themes--caution, rethinking routines, and protecting others. Other students struggled to follow prevention guidelines and took risks, also captured by three themes--parties, denial, and misinformation. A third category of themes captured the results of this dichotomy--tense campus relationships and a health leadership vacuum. Conclusions: Our findings identify specific locations for intervention (e.g., off campus parties) and needed community collaborations (e.g., bars and universities) for COVID-19 and future pandemics. Our findings suggest that overarching approaches, like harm reduction or affirmation (versus shame), are helpful intervention frameworks. Findings also celebrate the value of peer-ethnography, to learn about pandemics and solutions from the ground up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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