The study was for understanding the changes in psychological well-being during and after the lockdown due to COVID 19. Though we were unable to get the required number of responses, however, the results reveal significant lifestyle changes. Table 1 reveals changes in cooking, social media related activities, cleaning the house, dietary practice, hobbies, sleep practices and various other activities. In this pandemic, the general population needs to deal with various issues carefully, and daily routine is one of the crucial parts of the same. Advocacy is required to raise public awareness regarding general measures of countering stress like maintaining sleep hygiene, scheduling activities, exercising, relaxation techniques and avoiding social media forwards (5). It is reported that the current pandemic is a relatively new form of the stressor, and due to the unpredictable nature of the disease, healthy people also have an increased level of fear and anxiety (6, 7). It is reported that negative societal behaviours are driven by fear, and distorted perceptions of risk and the pandemic have incited similar responses (8). A review reports that COVID-19 will cause tremendous stress to patients and health care systems alike across the globe (8). The present study report reveals that the population, in general, is experiencing emotional distress.
The study results suggest feelings of negativity related to various mental/ physical health, dietary activity, and working environment during both phases of the study (Table 2). The adverse effects of the psychological trauma could be far more reaching once the pandemic has passed. It is reported that presently, dietary modifications (9) is essentially required. A Yoga-based lifestyle appears to be one of the suitable avenues to destress and improve physical form in a confined space (10). Though we did not explore the impact of such lifestyle modifications on records that there are definite daily activities, they start devoting more time for such activities (Table 1). Such activities help in boosting immunity, lung capacity, positivity, and wellness.
The pandemic affects one's physical health and has a detrimental effect on one's psychological and emotional health and well-being (7, 11). Living through a pandemic is a traumatic experience. Studies suggest that consistent interventions with maintaining psycho-social well-being are vital, if not more (Aluh and Onu, 2020). The study participants, both male and female, have reported experiencing negative emotions with no available resources to deal with them. Many changes were reported in physical health, mental health, interpersonal relationships, family environment, work environment, dietary planning, mental activities (Table 2). It is reported that fear, paranoia, other mental health issues and physical distancing from loved ones, along with a scarcity of resources to fight the virus, has put communities in a more vulnerable state (Stankovska, Memedi and Dimitrovski, 2020).
There are minor variations during and after lockdown scores that are insignificant. The reason maybe because of the unpredictable and terrible status of the disease. It is necessary to remember that initially, the lockdown was treated like a holiday with essential services available to get by. However, as the duration of the lockdown increased, people started worrying. Many lost their sources of livelihood, could not be with their families because of complete transportation shut down or had to face other difficulties in accessing services that made their lives burdensome. In this unprecedented situation, people then started taking cognisance of their psychological well-being. The successive extensions of the lockdown and an increasing number of COVID-19 cases started causing fear, worry, tension and stress due to restricted movements, deterioration/ loss of income, increased fear of getting the infection, limited resources to manage basic needs and other illnesses.
The stigma attached to COVID-19 also plays a vital role in affecting the psycho-social well-being of an individual (Joseph et al., 2020). Additionally, with a sustained lockdown and imposed restrictions, individuals may experience loss of mobility, making them more prone to indulge in high-risk behaviour (De Girolamo et al., 2020). The inability to gauge precisely how or when one might get affected, or what the virus would react like in one's body, even with advanced medical science in the 21st century, reduces a person's capability to have sustained faith (Pfefferbaum and North, 2020).
The present study is only a start to understand the extent of mental health issues that have cropped up in the face of COVID-19. It is vital to study this further and come up with ways to be sustainable in taking care of not just the vulnerable populations but also the population in general. The need for a support system in place that looks after a person's mental well-being with their physical health is of paramount importance now more than ever. Effective and prolonged efforts must be integrated within our health system to prevent mental health issues. Moreover, the general populace should be made aware of how to take care of their physical health and be vigilant of the signs of mental health problems to avoid catastrophic outcomes.
It is essential to understand the drop-out rate in online research. The pandemic required people to maintain physical distance, contributing to one's mental health status. The lockdown had a significant psycho-social impact on every person. Instead of approaching in-person, the researchers had to stay behind screens, limiting rapport building, a cornerstone for research. The study attempted to explore the impact on psycho-social well-being during a pandemic. Non-responsive participants can also be seen as a part of the loss of interest and commitment as the pandemic continued to affect their everyday lives with time progression. In the beginning, the lockdown, being seen as a change of pace, was welcome.
Nevertheless, with the continued restrictions, even after the unlock, participants may not be inclined or focused on research endeavours to commit to the second stage. Even after multiple posts regarding the study and multiple emails for the second response, drop-out remained high. We need to assess and work out strategies for future virtual research to manage such drop-outs. It cannot be construed as a question on the validity of data collected; however, it does pose a question for future researchers who may have to continue using various forms of virtual research. Drop-out will continue to be a methodological challenge for researchers who would continue to study the impacts of COVID-19 as long as the pandemic continues.