# Not all heroes wear capes: a photovoice exploration of youth experiences during and beyond COVID-19

## TL;DR

This study explores how young people from India, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka adapted emotionally and behaviorally during and after the COVID-19 pandemic using photovoice and personal narratives.

## Contribution

The study introduces photovoice as a participatory method to capture youth experiences during the pandemic, emphasizing resilience and coping strategies.

## Key findings

- Youth demonstrated resilience through social support and spirituality amid pandemic challenges.
- Four key themes emerged: fears leading to resilience, societal pressures, coping strategies, and new beginnings post-pandemic.
- Photovoice and narrative methods revealed diverse emotional and behavioral adaptations among participants.

## Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted significant transitions in many lives, with UNICEF reporting that 73% sought help for physical and mental well-being. This study is grounded in life course theory, examining youths’ emotional and behavioral adaptations during this period. The study was carried out to explore the lived experiences of youth during and after the COVID-19 pandemic through photovoice methodology.

Employing a qualitative, community-based participatory approach, the study was conducted among students aged 18 to 25 years. Data collection in this study is conducted using photovoice methodology, a participant-led research approach in which the researcher and the participant collaborate through photographs and narratives. Data were gathered from participants in Udupi, Karnataka, through 72 photographs and 24 journals, complemented by one-on-one interviews using the SHOWeD prompt technique.

Twenty-four youths (8 males, 16 females) from India, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka participated. Four primary themes emerged: fears leading to resilience, societal pressures, coping strategies during adversity, and new beginnings post-pandemic. Youth utilized various mechanisms, including social support and spirituality.

The study highlights youth’s adaptive strategies and resilience amid significant challenges, utilizing the photovoice approach.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-026-26731-8.