Coping with COVID: Cross-sectional study to assess the psychological impact and coping strategies utilized by Indian internet users during the lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: The sudden and extended lockdown imposed by the government as an attempt to break the transmission chain of COVID disrupted the lives and plans of many. The impact on mental health of people is variable depending on the appraisal of the situation and the resources and coping strategies. Aim and Objectives: The aim of the study was to know the impact on mental health and coping strategies used by internet users dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and involved difficulties in India. Materials and Methods: The survey was conducted using Google doc application. Tools included Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), and brief COPE questionnaire. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics were used to assess the sociodemographic characteristics, GAD-7, PHQ-2, and brief COPE scales. The group differences were analyzed using appropriate parametric or nonparametric tests for the quantitative variable and Chi-square/Mc-Nemar's test for categorical variables. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Three hundred and twenty six responses were analyzed. Nearly 35.3% screened positive for anxiety disorder and 12% for major depression. Respondents who were screened positive for anxiety disorder used active coping, denial, substance use, behavioral disengagement, planning, and self-blame more often than those screened negative. Those screened positive for major depression used all the coping strategies similar to anxiety disorder except for active coping more often than those who screened negative. While females used adaptive coping more frequently than males, respondents those engaged in essential services employed maladaptive coping less often. Conclusions: Acceptance, positive reframing, and positive coping were the most often employed strategies, while denial, self-blame, and substance use were least often employed.

Keywords

• anxiety
• coping
• covid-19
• depression
• lockdown
• psychopathology