From management to prolongation – Narratives of vulnerability from people living in Finland during the COVID-19 pandemic

Over the past few years, a rich body of knowledge has accumulated on the vulnerabilities which affected specific groups of people during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we examine varying experiences of vulnerability (or lack thereof) among adults of different ages and in different life situations during the pandemic from a narrative point of view. The accounts of 215 adults in Finland, collected via an international online survey in 2020, were analyzed qualitatively by combining thematic and narrative approaches. Four story types of perceived vulnerability could be discerned from the data: 1) managed vulnerability , 2) alleviated vulnerability , 3) increased vulnerability , and 4) continuous vulnerability . The results provide a lens into lived experiences of the pandemic and its differing impacts on individuals’ subjective well-being. Alongside various resources that help reduce, mitigate, or protect against vulnerability, the results also highlight the role of stressors in contemporary society and challenging life circumstances – realities from which breaking free requires more than the mere end of an exceptional period. Preventing and addressing such sources of vulnerability, both in their own right and in light of current intersecting crises, appears crucial.