Psychological Impact of COVID-19

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS- CoV-2) is an emerging viral infection and a public health emergency that has caused a widely spread pandemic. The current COVID-19 pandemic is prompting feelings of helplessness, fear of falling sick or dying and therefore, requires an urgent and timely understanding of the psychological impact it has had on/mental health status of the community. The aim of this study was to survey the general public in India to better understand their depression, anxiety, and stress levels during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: The study included a total of 76 participants which consisted of both adult students and working professionals including 38 males and 38 females. An online-based survey using a non-random convenience-based and snowball sample technique was conducted. The survey collected information about several aspects of participants’ socio-demographic and psychological impact. The psychological impact was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). The Independent sample t-test was run to analyze the collected data. Results: The findings of the study indicated that there is no significant difference in the psychological impact of the pandemic among males and females. Another finding of the study suggested a significant difference in the psychological impact of the pandemic among working individuals and students.