Emotional impact of the loss of connectivity due to power outage in young people
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Abstract
Introduction: This study examines the emotional impact of the April 28, 2025 power outage across the Iberian Peninsula on young people aged 14 to 26 residing in or educated in Galicia. Methodology: An exploratory online survey was conducted with 151 participants using snowball sampling, with data collection immediately after the event. This study investigates how they experienced the loss of digital and electrical connectivity, their predominant emotions, and the strategies they employed to cope with the situation. Results: Most young people did not express intense emotional distress. The predominant emotion was tranquillity, especially among men and those under 20 years of age. The most frequent negative emotions such as worry, helplessness, or isolation, were linked to the interruption of communication and access to information and were more intense among women and those over 20. Social media was not perceived as a relevant loss during the crisis. The most common coping strategies were maintaining routines, maintaining face-to-face contact, and engaging in physical or creative activities, with differences according to age and gender. Conclusions and Discussion: Despite the strong presence of digital technology in their daily lives, young people demonstrated a capacity for adaptation to the forced disconnection, relying on personal and relational resources that cushioned the emotional impact of the blackout.
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