Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
Volume 23, No. 2, 2025
DOI: 10.36108/ijss/5202.32.0280
Role of Social Capital in COVID-19 Recovery among Coronavirus Survivors during the First Wave of the Pandemic in South-West, Nigeria
Endurance Uzobo1 and Ijeoma Konwea2
1Department of Sociology, University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
2Department of Criminology, Kings University Odeomu Osun State, Nigeria
Abstract
This study examines the role of social capital in recovery from COVID-19 among survivors of the first wave of the pandemic in South West Nigeria. Drawing on the Functional Specificity Hypothesis and the Social Network Theory, the study examines how interpersonal ties, workplace networks, and religious organisations influenced coping strategies and post-illness resilience. A qualitative design was employed, with twenty participants purposively selected and interviewed across Lagos, Ekiti, Ondo, and Osun States. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and were analysed thematically using Atlas.ti Software. Findings revealed that family networks constituted the strongest source of support, providing financial, emotional, and psychological assistance during illness and recovery. Social networks from the workplace also played a pivotal role, particularly in funding treatment and safeguarding employment, while religious institutions offered significant spiritual and moral support. Peer groups and neighbours provided supplementary aid, though their involvement was less consistent. However, stigma led some survivors to conceal their diagnosis, resulting in experiences of isolation and limited support. Continued assistance after recovery was largely confined to close family members and trusted friends, as institutional and wider social support networks often receded once patients tested negative. The study underscores that recovery from COVID-19 extended beyond biomedical treatment, relying heavily on broader social environments that facilitated access to resources and reduced distress. It concludes that integrating family, workplace, and faith-based structures into public health practices is critical to improving outcomes in future health emergencies.
Keywords: Social capital, COVID-19 recovery, social networks, Coronavirus survivors, family networks