Amid the coronavirus pandemic, a large number of people believe that the term social distancing should be changed to physical distancing while tele-counseling should be emphasized to maintain good mental health during these testing times.
This was revealed in an online survey conducted by Panjab University’s Department of Psychology from April 21-28 in India and countries like Pakistan, USA, Canada, Malaysia, Iran, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, UAE to assess the impact of Coronavirus lockdown.
Questions related to the impact of yoga, social distancing, tele-conferencing, impact on body weight, use of social media, watching television, modern lifestyle among others were asked in the online survey.
On impact of yoga during lockdown, 86 percent participants agreed that yoga exercise can improve immunity system whereas 14 percent disagreed.
An interesting factor emerged during the survey that people prefer the term physical distancing instead of social distancing to contain the spread of coronavirus. 78 percent participants agreed that we are maintaining physical distance. Physical distance is more appropriate than social distance. Only 22 percent participants disagreed for using term physical distance.
The respondents said that during lockdown, we never lost social connectivity and remained socially in touch via various modes like phone, WhatsApp, Email etc but on the other side we remained completely distant in term of physical connectivity. The coronavirus never spread via social connections but only through physical proximity among the people.
On the causes of coronavirus, 86 percent agreed that we forgot the ethics, civil sense and adopted immoral ways of life hence are responsible for the ongoing coronavirus epidemic. 66 percent revealed that they have stopped watching television because the news related to Coronavirus generates anxiety.
Prof Anuradha Bhandari, Department of Psychology, Panjab University said that the survey has depicted multi level impacts on human behavior being confined to their homes during lockdown period. Majority of the people feel insecurity, lonely, anxious and all these leads to poor mental health during ongoing difficult time, she said.
The total participants in the survey were 750 and it was conducted by Dr Roshan Lal, Prof Anuradha Bhandari from Department of Psychology, Panjab University and Dr Ritu Sekhri, Department of Psychology, PG Govt. College for Girls, Sector-11 here.
Another interesting response was to the need of tele-counseling in lockdown during coronavirus and 86 percent participants agreed while 14 percent disagreed for tele-mental health support. During lockdown, the need of mental health professional was felt to seek counseling to get rid off from psychological issues causing disturbances in daily life. So, it is the time of tele system be adopted either in health or education area to remain connected with the people. This tele-counseling can be accessible for poor as well as rural based population also, said participants while responding in the survey.
On social media becoming a mode to kill time during lockdown, 78 percent respondents agreed whereas 22 percent revealed that it did not make any difference. In today’s scenario, no one is in isolation because everyone is very much connected to Email, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc to remain occupied. 60 percent participants also shared that mobile communication also triggers negativity about Coronavirus.
About influence of lockdown on body weight, 65 percent participants revealed that their body weight either increased or decreased during lockdown as outdoor activities like going to park, gym and for outdoor games were completely halted. Whereas 35 percent participants said they did not have any impact of lockdown in terms of body weight.
Consistent insecurity about family health has been experienced by as many 69 percent people while 31 percent disagreed on this. When asked about vulnerability of elderly, 85 percent participants agreed that geriatric period is very vulnerable for coronavirus because immunity decreases during this age and low immunity is the very soft target of coronavirus while only 15 percent disagreed on this.
In response to a question about the use of herbs and traditional lifestyle for the safety from coronavirus, 6 percent participants agreed to follow this while 34 percent disagreed.
66 percent respondents agreed that Almighty is the ultimate one to save humanity from coronavirus whereas 34 percent denied it.
In a separate online survey conducted in April, the Psychology Department of Panjab University had concluded that a majority of Indians are high on optimism and hope despite a life-altering disruption caused by the nation-wide lockdown to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
An overwhelming majority of respondents i.e. 96 percent had reported a positive emotional and mental health, which was the silver lining to the bleak public mood since the virus outbreak in the country.