Transformation of Agency of Youth and Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14515/monitoring.2024.4.2531Keywords:
agency transformation, COVID-19 pandemic, youth, older adults, pandemic consequencesAbstract
The article presents a study aimed at analyzing the processes of agency formation and adaptation of older and younger people in the context of a pandemic. The work is based on semi-structured interviews with young people and older people, collected from February to July 2023.
Agency is considered as a set of different actions of individuals and responsibility for them; within the framework of this approach, the author analyzes the transformation of agency in two population groups and studies their interaction with the environment during COVID-19. The article presents a study aimed at analyzing the processes of agency formation and adaptation in older and younger people in the context of a pandemic. The transformation of agency led to changes in their behavior and everyday life. For young people, this adaptation was most often temporary, while for older people it became an integral part of life associated with the restrictive effects of medicine. Older people were generally more willing to accept and adapt to the changes that had taken place, while younger participants of the study were more flexible and maintained a critical outlook on the situation, trying to adapt to new conditions while simultaneously recognizing and analyzing the problems and difficulties created by the pandemic.
References
Абрамов Р. Н., Груздев И. А., Терентьев Е. А., Захарова У. С., Григорьева А. В. Университетские преподаватели и цифровизация образования: накануне дистанционного форс-мажора. Университетское управление: практика и анализ. 2020. Т. 24. № 2. С. 59—74. https://doi.org/10.15826/umpa.2020.02.014.
Abramov R. N., Gruzdev I. A., Terentev E. A., Zakharova U. S., Grigoryeva A. V. (2020) University Professors and the Digitalization of Education: on the Threshold of Force Majeure Transition to Studying Remotely. University Management: Practice and Analysis. Vol. 24. No. 2. P. 59—74. https://doi.org/10.15826/umpa.2020.02.014. (In Russ.)
Григорьева И. А., Богданова Е. А. Концепция активного старения в Европе и России перед лицом пандемии COVID-19 // Laboratorium: журнал социальных исследований. 2020. № 2. С. 187—211. https://doi.org/10.25285/2078-1938-2020-12-2-187-211.
Grigoryeva I. A., Bogdanova E. A. (2020) The Concept of Active Aging in Europe and Russia in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Laboratorium: Russian Review of Social Research. No. 2. P. 187—211. https://doi.org/10.25285/2078-1938-2020-12-2-187-211. (In Russ.)
Кузьминов Я., Сорокин П., Фрумин И. Общие и специальные навыки как компоненты человеческого капитала: новые вызовы для теории и практики образования. Форсайт. 2019. Т. 13. № 2. С. 19-41. https://doi.org/10.17323/2500-2597.2019.2.19.41.
Kuzminov Ya., Sorokin P., Frumin I. (2019) General and Special Skills as Components of Human Capital: New Challenges for the Theory and Practice of Education. Foresight. Vol. 13. No. 2. P. 19-41. https://doi.org/10.17323/2500-2597.2019.2.19.41. (In Russ.)
Сорокин П. С. «Трансформирующая агентность» как предмет социологического анализа: современные дискуссии и роль образования // Вестник Российского университета дружбы народов. Серия: Социология. 2021а. Т. 21. № 1. С. 124—138. https://doi.org/10.22363/2313-2272-2021-21-1-124-138.
Sorokin P.S. (2021a) “Transformative Agency” as an Object of Sociological Analysis: Contemporary Discussions and the Role of Education. RUDN Journal of Sociology. Vol. 21. No. 1. P. 124—138. https://doi.org/10.22363/2313-2272-2021-21-1-124-138. (In Russ.)
Сорокин П. С., Зыкова А. В. «Трансформирующая агентность» как предмет исследований и разработок в XXI веке: обзор и интерпретация международного опыта // Мониторинг общественного мнения: экономические и социальные перемены. 2021б. № 5. С. 216—241. https://doi.org/10.14515/monitoring.2021.5.1858.
Sorokin P. S., & Zykova А. V. (2021b) «Transformative Agency» as a Subject of Research and Development in the 21st Century: A Review and Interpretation of International Experience. Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes Journal. No. 5. P. 216—241. https://doi.org/10.14515/monitoring.2021.5.1858. (In Russ.)
Сорокин П. С., Фрумин И. Д. (2020) Проблема «структура/действие» в XXI в.: изменения в социальной реальности и выводы для исследовательской повестки. Социологические исследования. № 7. С. 27—36. https://doi.org/10.31857/S013216250009571-1. Sorokin P. S., Frumin I. D. (2020) “Structure/Agency” Problem in the 21st Century: Changing Social Reality and Research Implications. Sociological Studies. No. 7. P. 27—36. https://doi.org/10.31857/S013216250009571-1. (In Russ.)
Томпсон Х. Агентность, опосредованная объективацией: субъектность и технологии // Логос. 2018. Т. 28. № 5. С. 203—248.
Thompson C. (2018) Agency through Objectification: Subjectivity and Technology. Philosophical Literary Journal Logos. Vol. 28. No. 5. P. 203—248. (In Russ.)
Чернова Ж. В., Шпаковская Л. Л. «Бесконечный день сурка»: социологический анализ учебных практик студентов вузов в ситуации вынужденной изоляции // Мониторинг общественного мнения: экономические и социальные перемены. 2021. № 2. С. 464—483. https://doi.org/10.14515/monitoring.2021.2.1765.
Chernova Zh. V., Shpakovskaya L. L. (2021) “Endless Groundhog Day”: Sociological Analysis of Educational Practices Implemented by University Students in a Situation of Forced Isolation. Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes. No. 2. P. 464—483. https://doi.org/10.14515/monitoring.2021.2.1765. (In Russ.)
Штомпка П. (2001) Понятие социальной структуры: попытка обобщения // Социологические исследования. No. 9. С. 3—13.
Sztompka P. (2001) The Concept of Social Structure: An Attempt at Generalization. Sociological Studies. No. 9. P. 3—13. (In Russ.)
Bandura A. (1977) Self-¬Efficacy: Toward a Unifying Theory of Behavioral Change. Psychological Review. Vol. 84. No. 2. P. 191—215. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033295x.84.2.191.
Berridge D. (2017) The Education of Children in Care: Agency and Resilience. Children and Youth Services Review. Vol. 77. P. 86—93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth. 2017.04.004.
Bhatti S., Zakariya R., Vrontis D., Santoro G., Christofi M. (2021) High-Performance Work Systems, Innovation and Knowledge Sharing: An Empirical Analysis in the Context of Project-Based Organizations. Employee Relations: The International Journal. Vol. 43. No. 2. P. 438-458. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER¬10-2019-0403.
Campbell P. (2020) Rethinking Professional Collaboration and Agency in a Post-pandemic Era. Journal of Professional Capital and Community. Vol. 5. No. 3/4. P. 337—341. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPCC-06-2020-0033.
Chen J. H. (2021) Daily Social Life of Older Adults and Vulnerabilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in Public Health. Vol. 9. Art. 637008. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.637008.
Dwivedi Y. K., Hughes D. L., Coombs C., Constantiou I., Duan Y., Edwards J. S., Gupta B., Lal B., Misra S., Prashant P., Raman R., Rana N. P., Sharma S. K., Upadhyay N. (2020) Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Information Management Research and Practice: Transforming Education, Work and Life. International Journal of Information Management. Vol. 55. P. 102—211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102211.
Huberman M., Miles. M. B. (1994) The Qualitative Researcher’s Companion. New York, NY: Sage.
Jones R. H. (2024) How to Have Agency in a Pandemic. Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence. Vol. 6. Art. 1279759. https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.2023.1279759.
Kvale S. (1996) Interviews: An Introduction to Qualitative Research Interviewing Thousand Oaks. New York, NY: Sage.
Kwon K., Kim T. (2020) An Integrative Literature Review of Employee Engagement and Innovative Behavior: Revisiting the JD-R Model. Human Resource Management Review. Vol. 30. No. 2. Art. 100704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2019.100704.
Leach M., MacGregor H., Scoones I., Wilkinson A. (2021) Post-pandemic Transformations: How and Why COVID-19 Requires Us to Rethink Development. World Development. Vol. 138. P. 105—233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105233.
Pahl-Wostl C., Odume O. N., Scholz G., De Villiers A., Amankwaa E. F. (2023) The role of crises in transformative change towards sustainability. Ecosystems and People. Vol. 19. No. 1: 2188087. https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2023.2188087.
Pradies C., Aust I., Bednarek R., Brandl J., Carmine S., Cheal J., Pina e Cunha M., Gaim M., Keegan A., K. Lê J., Miron-Spektor E., Nielsen R-K., Pouthier V., Sharma G., Sparr Jennifer L., Vince R., Keller J. (2021) The Lived Experience of Paradox: How Individuals Navigate Tensions during the Pandemic Crisis. Journal of Management Inquiry. Vol. 30. No. 2. P. 154—167. https://doi.org/10.1177/1056492620986874.
Rydzik A., Anitha S. (2019) Conceptualising the Agency of Migrant Women Workers: Resilience, Reworking and Resistance. Work, Employment and Society. Vol. 34. No. 5. P. 883—899. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017019881939.
Sanderson R., Spacey R., Zhu X., Sterling-Morris R. E. (2021) Supporting Student Experience during the Pandemic and Beyond. Student Success. Vol. 12. No. 3. P. 96—105. https://doi.org/10.5204/ssj.1847.
Smith K., Ulvik M. (2017) Leaving Teaching: Lack of Resilience or Sign of Agency? Teachers and Teaching. Vol. 23. No. 8. P. 928—945. https://doi.org/10.1080/13540602.2017.1358706.
Statz T. L., Kobayashi L. C., Finlay J. M. (2023) ‘Losing the Illusion of Control and Predictability of Life’: Experiences of Grief and Loss among Ageing US Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Ageing & Society. Vol. 43. No. 12. P. 2821—2844. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0144686x21001872.
Tuominen T., Martinsuo M. (2019) Employees’ Agency in the Formalisation of Knowledge-Intensive Business Service Processes: A Cross-Case Comparison. Journal of Service Theory and Practice. Vol. 29. No. 1. P. 45—70. https://doi.org/10.1108/jstp¬102017-0184.
Vale M. T., Stanley J. T., Houston M. L., Villalba A. A., Turner J. R. (2020) Ageism and Behavior Change during a Health Pandemic: A Preregistered Study. Frontiers in Psychology. Vol. 11. P. 587—911. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.587911.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
