Determining Coping Behavior and Negative Mood States in Introverts Vs Extroverts During Lockdown

Abstract

The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 around the globe was an uncharted ground for psychological health. The study explored the relationship between personality type, coping strategies, anxiety, stress and depression in context to the social isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic in emerging adults. The sample comprised 213 emerging adults. The tools employed were The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995), Eysenck’s Personality Inventory (EPI; Eysenck and Eysenck, 1975), Brief Cope scale (Carver, 1997). The findings showed a significant negative correlation between extraversion and depression. Extraversion was found to be significantly correlated with coping strategies like substance use, use of instrumental support, religion and self blame. Stress was found to be significantly correlated with denial, substance abuse, behavioural disengagement, venting, use of instrumental support, self blame and humour. Anxiety was found to be significantly correlated with denial, substance use, behavioral disengagement, venting, use of instrumental support, self blame and planning. Depression was found to be significantly correlated with active coping, denial, substance use, behavioral disengagement, venting and self blame. Significant differences were also found with respect to depression, substance use, self blame and religion between introvert and extrovert.