Coping Strategies During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Review of Literature

Covid-19 outbreak in the year 2019 has been a major struggle for every human-being in many aspects – academically, financially, emotionally (to name a few). Mental health, which already was an emerging issue in the entire world, was aggravated during this time. There was increasing boredom, restlessness and suffering from severe mental health disorders. To deal with them during the pandemic, coping strategies were availed by everyone, which are the ways to deal with the increasing personal, interpersonal problems and putting efforts to deal with stress, loss and conflicts that come on the way in our day to day lives. Studies have shown various responses of the subjects from around the world. The emotional and coping responses of aging individuals were very positive due to their awareness of time limitation. Many older people have shown strong resilience and self-engagement during the pandemic. Virtual reality exercise has been an effective tool for the old people which increased the motor abilities, decreased obesity. Regarding mental health, studies have shown that cognitive appraisal and emotion-focused coping were effective tools for a stable mental health. Mindfulness exercises, Yoga have been ways for good mental health. Positive reframing about the negative events about pandemic brought general well-being. Strategies to cope with the pandemic have differed with respect to age. Even with increasing stress and negativity, many chose positivity and a way to work on themselves. The following research paper uses a narrative method that reviews literature on the coping strategies procured by the late-middle adults and older adults, and the effectiveness of coping strategies on each one’s mental health during the ongoing pandemic through researches from across the world.