INTRODUCTION:

Corona is a single stranded RNA virus that had its roots into the world from almost 60 years since its discovery in late 1960s .At the end of 2019, the corona virus disease (COVID-19) first appeared in China, in particular in Wuhan City, in Hubei province. In March 2020, due to the global spread of the disease, COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic, causing widespread concern. ¹.

As a consequence, rapidly expanding mass hysteria and panic regarding COVID-19 may beget enduring psychological problems in public from all the socioeconomic domains, which could potentially be even more detrimental in the long run than the virus itself ².

Psychological impact can vary from immediate effects, like irritability, fear of contracting and spreading infection to family members, anger, confusion, frustration, loneliness, denial, anxiety, depression, insomnia, despair, to extremes of consequences including suicide ³

NEED AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:

The research study of assessing COVID 19 effects on psychological aspects of adults are very helpful to declaim how the individuals are responding to the stressors of isolation, quarantine, record unemployment levels, and the virus threat to their health. And it also gives the significant emotional and financial consequences of COVID19 in adult. ⁴

In addition to the physical impacts, COVID-19 can have serious effects on people’s mental health ⁵. A wide range of psychological outcomes have been observed during the Virus outbreak, at individual, community, national, and international levels. At the individual level, people are more likely to experience fear of getting sick or dying, feeling helpless, and being stereotyped by others ⁶. The pandemic has had a harmful effect on the public mental health which can even lead to psychological crises ⁷

It is important to devote the adequate resources and attention to the mental status needs of the population throughout the remaining course of the COVID 19 pandemic, and relevant research to prepare for future pandemics ⁸. The study can assess the broad range of specific emotional effects due to the pandemic and found the certain stressors which affects large majority people ⁹.

Although all the age groups are at risk for COVID19, young adults are more vulnerable for psychological problems as they lost their social gathering, job, academics etc. By assessing their psychological impact due to Covid 19 it will be more helpful to identify their problems and make them to face the physical, psychological, social changes that occurs due to COVID 19 Pandemic ¹⁰

Early identification of individuals in the early stages of a psychological disorder makes the intervention strategies more effective.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM:

A study to assess the psychological problems among young adults due to Covid-19 in selected Panchayath of Alappuzha District, Kerala.

OBJECTIVES:

To explore the psychological effects of Covid -19 pandemic among young adults in selected Panchayat of Alappuzha District

To find out the association between the psychological effects of Covid -19 pandemic among young adults selected demographic variables in selected Panchayat of Alappuzha District

METHODOLOGY:

A descriptive research approach was used to assess the psychological impact among young adults due to Covid 19. Research design selected for this study was Non-Experimental Research Design. In the study, the population selected were the young adults who are residing in selected Panchayat of Alappuzha District between the age group of 18-30 years and the sample size were restricted to 50 because of Covid 19 related restrictions. Samples were selected using convenient sampling. Data were collected using pretested and predetermined tools such as demographic variables Performa of young adults and questionnaire to assess the psychological well-being. The Socio demographic Performa consists of 11 questions regarding their age, gender, religion marital status, Education, occupation, income, source of income, high risk group in family, social support. The questionnaire to assess psychological problem is a structured questionnaire which comprises 35 items with the total obtainable score of 106-140. Instrument is rated on a 4 point rating scale, marked 1-4 based on the response of the participants. 1- Not at all, 2-Sometimes, 3-Most of the time, 4- Always.

The data were collected through online platform. The researcher introduced herself and explained about the purpose of study to the subjects. After assuring the confidentiality of data collection and obtained consent from the subjects and they were requested to participate in study. The tool was administered to the group. The average time taken to conduct test was30minutes. Data was collected from 50 samples

RESULT:

Table -1: Frequency and percentage distribution of Socio Demographic Variables of study subjects

Variables

Category

Frequency

Percentage

Age

18 - 20

21 -23

24 -26

27 -30

24%

36%

18%

Sex

Male

Female

36%

62%

Religion

Hindu

Christian

Muslim

42%

44%

14%

Education

<SSLC

Higher secondary

Diploma

Degree

16%

68%

Occupation

Student

Medical workers

Other office Workers

Business

Unemployed

Home makers

46%

20%

18%

Residential area

Rural

Urban

30%

70%

Type of family

Joint

Nuclear

92%

Marital status

Married

Single

Divorced

24%

74%

Income

<Rs 5000/-

5,000-10,000

Above 10,000

12%

56%

32%

In this study a total of 50 participants were participated in the study.36 % of young adults are from age group between 21-23 years. 62% are females. Majority of subjects are Christians and are degree holders. 46% of subjects were students .70%s of subjects are from urban areas. Majority of the samples are from nuclear family. 74% percentages of subjects were unmarried. More than half of them have family income between 5,000-10,000 (56%).

Table – 2: Percentage distribution of response of subjects on each question in psychological impact assessment questionnaire N: 50

Sl no	Items	Always	Most times	Some times	Not at all
1	I am repeatedly getting myself checked for the presence of Covid in body	14	10	19	7
2	I am worried more than usual about the future of myself and my family	8	8	22	12
3	I am worried of not knowing when this crisis is going to end	13	19	13	5
4	I find that COVID‑19 pandemic has posed a threat to our existence	9	10	17	14
5	I found difficult to follow my daily activities in this times as usual	2	10	13	25
6	I am feeling stressed in online education	5	8	7	30
7	I am feeling stressed in doing job at home	5	20	15	10
8	I am worried about the financial loss during the period of Covid 19	3	16	26	5
9	I had problems due to less transportation	4	26	18	2
10	I feel sad for not attending the funeral or other functions o	13	16	14	7
11	I am getting affected by the talks of Novel Corona Virus Pandemic on the newspaper and news channel	4	13	24	9
12	I am getting afraid if anyone in my social circle reports of being sick	3	16	23	8
13	I am afraid of being in quarantine or isolation	11	8	15	16
14	I am feeling stressed for not attending religious worships	10	6	11	23
15	I like to talk to someone about my worries for the COVID 19	22	13	14	1

Figure:1 Percentage distribution of samples distress on Covid 19

Figure 2: Percentage distribution of samples according to the negative effects of Covid 19 on mental status

Figure 3: Percentage distribution of feeling of depression among samples

Figure 4: Percentage distribution of affect of Covid 19 on quality of life

Figure 5: Percentage distribution of need for help from mental health professional

Table – 2: Frequency and percentage distribution of psychological impact

Level of impact	Frequency	Percentage
Mild impact.	19	38%
Moderate impact	31	62%
Severe impact	0	0

Table 2: reveals that 68% had moderate impact, 32% have mild impact whereas none of them had severe psychological problems due to Covid 19.

Figure 6: Association between the psychological level with selected Socio demographic variables

Psychological problems among young adults due to covid 19 were only associated with presence of high risk group in the family where as there was no association between other variables and psychological problems (age, gender, religion marital status, Education, occupation, income, source of income, socialsupport).

DISCUSSION:

This study was conducted to assess the psychological problems of young adults due to Covid 19. Findings of the study shows that majority of samples belongs to 21-23 years, were females from Christian religion. 68% of them are degree holders and are students. It was also identified that about 92% are from nuclear family and 70% are from urban area. 72% were unmarried. 62% have presence of high-risk group in family. More than half of them (54%) have adequate support system.

While assessing the psychological impact 62% have moderate psychological impact, 32% have mild impact whereas none of them have severe psychological problems due to Covid 19. This finding were supported by another cross sectional observational study aims to assess the psychological impact and perceived stress due to COVID-19 lockdown in Young Adult population of India. The survey was conducted using Google forms involving snowball sampling technique which obtained 267 responses in total. (IES-R) and (PSS) scales were used for the study. Descriptive analyses were performed on the socio demographic parameters and the comparisons of means were done by Chi-square test in SPSS Statistic 21.0 (IBM SPSS Statistics, New York, United States). The mean IES-R and PSS scores obtained for the population in this study was 25.64±18.95 and 18.27±6.10 respectively. Females, younger individuals were found to have higher IES-R and PSS scores. There is significant psychological burden and stress on the young Indian population with females and younger individuals particularly students are the most vulnerable population. ¹¹

CONCLUSION:

Covid-19 is challenging for our position in the world as well as our individuality because the illness will be a threat to our physical and mental well-being. COVID-19, then, is as much as challenge for how we are to frame it from a psychiatric perspective as it is symptomatic of a public health crisis¹². Study findings highlight the need for planning intervention strategies by the mental health team including nurses, so as to deals with problems effectively and improve quality of life.

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Received on 30.07.2021 Modified on 01.09.2021

Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2022; 12(1):124-127.

DOI: 10.52711/2349-2996.2022.00026