THE RESILIENCE OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED WITH COVID-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has a different impact on each individual, including university students who are in the early adult age group. This study aims to provide an overview of resilience in students who have been infected with COVID-19. This study looks at the picture of resilience based on aspects of resilience, namely Emotion Regulation, Impulse Control, Empathy, Optimism, Causal Analysis, Self-efficacy, and Reaching Out. It uses qualitative approach with case study method. Students who had been infected with COVID-19, experienced symptoms of COVID-19, and isolated themselves in a hospital or COVID-19 emergency hospital were recruited to be a participant of this study. There were three participants took part to the study. The data was collected using in-depth interviews and was analysed using thematic analysis technique. Results showed that the three participants did not prolong in sadness and focused on healing from COVID-19 (emotion regulation), were able to resist the urge by making judgments before making decisions (the impulse control), had a motivation to get well soon so that they can go home and carry out their usual activities (the optimism). In the causal analysis aspect, the three participants tried to find a solution to get well quickly, participant 1 and participant 2 tried to use alternative treatments other than drugs. In the empathy aspect, the three participants felt sad about the condition of another patient which was more severe than his condition. In the aspect of self-efficacy, the three participants felt confident in themselves to be able to recover by looking at their body condition, but participant 1 felt less confident in themselves if they did not get support from their closest people in academic matters. All participants are also able to continue their lives and roles and duties as before and are able to take positive things from their experiences to make them better individuals so that all three participants can reach out.