Redes sociais significativas de crianças e adolescentes em vulnerabilidade social durante a pandemia de COVID-19

Authors

  • Beatriz Carla Koch Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
  • Isabella Goulart Bittencourt Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
  • Marina Menezes

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7213/psicolargum.43.121.AO05

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the world population not as a universal and homogeneous phenomenon, but as an adverse and highly stressful event that has had repercussions on the development of children and adolescents, especially in vulnerable contexts. In this context, significant social networks can be protective factors. This qualitative, descriptive, cross-sectional, and retrospective study aimed to analyze the structure and functions of the significant social networks of 24 children and adolescents who lived in a region characterized as a context of social vulnerability in Florianópolis–SC, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection used a sociodemographic questionnaire and a network map adapted for children and adolescents. Sociodemographic data served to characterize the participants and the network map was analyzed according to Sluzki's perspective. In general, the networks were of medium size, with a prevalence of closer relationships with family and friends in the children's networks, and with family and community members in the adolescents' networks. Most of the people mentioned were adults and female. During the pandemic, children's networks showed 120 ties and adolescents' networks showed 76 ties. The predominant functions of children's ties were social companionship, services and material assistance. For adolescents, the functions of social companionship, cognitive guidance and advice were the most frequent. This research highlights the importance of significant social networks as protective factors, while also highlighting the need for investments in public policies to mitigate risks for vulnerable people in crisis situations

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Published

2025-05-12

How to Cite

Carla Koch, B., Goulart Bittencourt, I., & Menezes, M. (2025). Redes sociais significativas de crianças e adolescentes em vulnerabilidade social durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Psicologia Argumento, 43(121). https://doi.org/10.7213/psicolargum.43.121.AO05