A Study on COVID-19 Awareness Among the Indian Community

Abstract

The impact of the coronavirus on individuals’ physical well-being is evident in the growing global data on increasing COVID-19 cases and rising mortality rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the COVID-19 outbreak as a significant international public health emergency. Furthermore, it is crucial to recognize the pandemic’s effect on the mental health of both individuals and societies. This study’s objective is to evaluate the mental health of individuals during the 2020 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with the voluntary participation of 750 individuals. After applying specific criteria, a sample of 600 respondents was selected. The age range of the participants was 14 to 69 years, with an average age of 33.032 ± 12.10 years. The sample was collected from various regions across the country, and the survey was coordinated by the Department of Psychology at HNBGU (a Central University) in Srinagar, Uttarakhand. To analyse the association between mental health and different factors such as locality and gender, chi-square statistics were employed. The study’s findings reveal that the mental well-being and mental health of individuals were negatively impacted during the 2020 pandemic. Specifically, the results indicate that females experienced a more pronounced decline in mental health compared to males. Additionally, individuals residing in urban areas faced a greater impact on their mental health compared to those in rural areas. Stressors affecting mental health were notably significant among both males and females in urban areas. Interestingly, males in both urban and rural areas experienced similar levels of stress during the 2020 pandemic.