Navigating Negative Social Identity: Virtual Identity as a Coping Strategy for Unemployed Youth

Anastasia Kitiashvili

doi:doi:10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12

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Navigating Negative Social Identity: Virtual Identity as a Coping Strategy for Unemployed Youth

Anastasia Kitiashvili^*

Published in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 13, Issue 6)

Received: 14 September 2024 Accepted: 14 October 2024 Published: 20 November 2024

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Abstract

This study explored how unemployed young people create virtual social identities as a coping mechanism for their unfavorable social identities. It hypothesized that as young people without jobs have limited opportunities to interact with others, they might use virtual social identities to redefine their identity. The study used survey research with 200 participants and qualitative interviews with 25 respondents. The results indicated that youth unemployment, compounded by social segregation, negatively affects relationships, social identity, and overall well-being. Findings showed that virtual social identities helped youth develop negative outcomes of their offline social identities, although excessive use of virtual platforms could become a potential source of additional stress. Qualitative data analysis identified key themes including social isolation, stress, humiliation, alienation, and dashed hopes. The importance of the virtual environment in the formation of social identity among unemployed youth was also highlighted, which is the novel contribution to the field. The article also discusses recommendations for social interventions for supporting unemployed youth.

Published in	Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 13, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12
Page(s)	142-153
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Youth Unemployment, Social Identity, Virtual Identity, Social Segregation, Well-Being

References

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APA Style

Kitiashvili, A. (2024). Navigating Negative Social Identity: Virtual Identity as a Coping Strategy for Unemployed Youth. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 13(6), 142-153. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12

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ACS Style

Kitiashvili, A. Navigating Negative Social Identity: Virtual Identity as a Coping Strategy for Unemployed Youth. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2024, 13(6), 142-153. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12

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AMA Style

Kitiashvili A. Navigating Negative Social Identity: Virtual Identity as a Coping Strategy for Unemployed Youth. Psychol Behav Sci. 2024;13(6):142-153. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12

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@article{10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12,
  author = {Anastasia Kitiashvili},
  title = {Navigating Negative Social Identity: Virtual Identity as a Coping Strategy for Unemployed Youth
},
  journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
  volume = {13},
  number = {6},
  pages = {142-153},
  doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20241306.12},
  abstract = {This study explored how unemployed young people create virtual social identities as a coping mechanism for their unfavorable social identities. It hypothesized that as young people without jobs have limited opportunities to interact with others, they might use virtual social identities to redefine their identity. The study used survey research with 200 participants and qualitative interviews with 25 respondents. The results indicated that youth unemployment, compounded by social segregation, negatively affects relationships, social identity, and overall well-being. Findings showed that virtual social identities helped youth develop negative outcomes of their offline social identities, although excessive use of virtual platforms could become a potential source of additional stress. Qualitative data analysis identified key themes including social isolation, stress, humiliation, alienation, and dashed hopes. The importance of the virtual environment in the formation of social identity among unemployed youth was also highlighted, which is the novel contribution to the field. The article also discusses recommendations for social interventions for supporting unemployed youth.
},
 year = {2024}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Navigating Negative Social Identity: Virtual Identity as a Coping Strategy for Unemployed Youth

AU  - Anastasia Kitiashvili
Y1  - 2024/11/20
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12
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Author Information

Anastasia Kitiashvili

Department of Psychology, Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5781-9784

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APA Style

Kitiashvili, A. (2024). Navigating Negative Social Identity: Virtual Identity as a Coping Strategy for Unemployed Youth. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 13(6), 142-153. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12

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ACS Style

Kitiashvili, A. Navigating Negative Social Identity: Virtual Identity as a Coping Strategy for Unemployed Youth. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2024, 13(6), 142-153. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12

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AMA Style

Kitiashvili A. Navigating Negative Social Identity: Virtual Identity as a Coping Strategy for Unemployed Youth. Psychol Behav Sci. 2024;13(6):142-153. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12,
  author = {Anastasia Kitiashvili},
  title = {Navigating Negative Social Identity: Virtual Identity as a Coping Strategy for Unemployed Youth
},
  journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
  volume = {13},
  number = {6},
  pages = {142-153},
  doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20241306.12},
  abstract = {This study explored how unemployed young people create virtual social identities as a coping mechanism for their unfavorable social identities. It hypothesized that as young people without jobs have limited opportunities to interact with others, they might use virtual social identities to redefine their identity. The study used survey research with 200 participants and qualitative interviews with 25 respondents. The results indicated that youth unemployment, compounded by social segregation, negatively affects relationships, social identity, and overall well-being. Findings showed that virtual social identities helped youth develop negative outcomes of their offline social identities, although excessive use of virtual platforms could become a potential source of additional stress. Qualitative data analysis identified key themes including social isolation, stress, humiliation, alienation, and dashed hopes. The importance of the virtual environment in the formation of social identity among unemployed youth was also highlighted, which is the novel contribution to the field. The article also discusses recommendations for social interventions for supporting unemployed youth.
},
 year = {2024}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Navigating Negative Social Identity: Virtual Identity as a Coping Strategy for Unemployed Youth

AU  - Anastasia Kitiashvili
Y1  - 2024/11/20
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12
T2  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JF  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JO  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
SP  - 142
EP  - 153
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7845
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20241306.12
AB  - This study explored how unemployed young people create virtual social identities as a coping mechanism for their unfavorable social identities. It hypothesized that as young people without jobs have limited opportunities to interact with others, they might use virtual social identities to redefine their identity. The study used survey research with 200 participants and qualitative interviews with 25 respondents. The results indicated that youth unemployment, compounded by social segregation, negatively affects relationships, social identity, and overall well-being. Findings showed that virtual social identities helped youth develop negative outcomes of their offline social identities, although excessive use of virtual platforms could become a potential source of additional stress. Qualitative data analysis identified key themes including social isolation, stress, humiliation, alienation, and dashed hopes. The importance of the virtual environment in the formation of social identity among unemployed youth was also highlighted, which is the novel contribution to the field. The article also discusses recommendations for social interventions for supporting unemployed youth.

VL  - 13
IS  - 6
ER  -

Copy | Download