Together Yet Apart: Exploring strategies employed by West African Immigrants to stay socially connected during COVID-19 in Bergen, Norway.

Abstract

This study explores the coping strategies employed by West African immigrants to remain socially active when the government adopted the Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) in Bergen, Norway, during the COVID-19 pandemic. It further focuses on how the participants experienced social connectedness when the NPIs were implemented in Bergen and its implications on their well-being. Qualitative data was gathered through in-depth interviews, informal conversations, and participants' life experiences. These were analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis and further discussed using a combined theoretical framework of salutogenesis and acculturation theory. The study findings indicated that West African immigrants in Bergen understood and valued their social connectedness and the NPIs implemented in Bergen, Norway, during COVID-19. The informants perceived social connectedness as part of their nature, a coping mechanism, and a source of hope to return to normal times. The participants faced numerous stressors that hampered their social connectedness, ranging from cultural differences, language barriers, COVID-19 infections, financial difficulties and NPIs, which resulted in anxiety, depression, and loneliness, negatively affecting their well-being. The immigrants relied on their technology, social support system, and religious strategies to stay socially connected, which promoted their well-being. However, some participants noted that their experiences with social connections during the same period remained unchanged. The COVID-19 NPIs, cultural differences, and economic hardships were the main challenges to the West African immigrant participants' social connectedness. The participants relied largely on social support and technology to stay socially connected during the period. The findings of this thesis will provide helpful information that researchers could use to drive future studies.