Beyond coping mechanisms: linguistic insights into university students’ positive pandemic narratives

The beginning of 2020 witnessed the dramatic spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected 210 countries, including Indonesia, by April 8. Amidst the mounting concerns and the lack of an immediate cure, Indonesia initiated Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB), which had a profound effect on students. This research examines the positive narratives of university students during these trying times. The primary aim is to understand their interpretation of positivity amidst the crisis. Data were sourced via online survey applications and were analysed using a sequential explanatory design. A corpus-based methodology, combined with a socio-cognitive perspective and the semantic domain, was employed to assess the students’ narratives. This study highlights the intricate and multi-dimensional essence of beauty, emphasising its presence beyond mere aesthetics, and encompassing nature, human behaviour, and morals. However, a broader representation across faculties and a balanced gender distribution would provide a more comprehensive understanding and would mitigate potential biases in future research.