A Cross-Sectional Observational Study on Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Quality of Life in Different Socioeconomic Groups in India

Abstract

The corona virus disease (COVID-19) is expected to have widespread and persuasive implication for mental health and financial status in terms of deteriorating outcomes and increased health service use that leading to call for empirical research on mental health during pandemic. The aim of study is to assess the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Quality of Life in Different Socioeconomic Groups in India. An online study was conducted through Google Forms and the link was sent to participants via WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram & one-to-one interview was done. A self-designed questionnaire survey was utilized for the study. Total 476 responses were obtained. A total of 476 participants were belonged to different social groups where 82 (17.2%) were homemakers, 127 (26.7%) were from job sector and 254 (53.4%) were students & 13 (2.7%) were others. The most affected group in term of anxiety score were home-makers where 39% had moderate anxiety & 25.6% had severe anxiety. Other were different economic classes where 20 (4.2%) from BPL, 186 (39.1%) from Lower-middle class, 224 (47.1%) from Upper-middle class & 46 (9.7%) from Upper class. The most affected in terms of facing financial crisis were 85% from BPL class. And score of anxiety level where mild anxiety was most in lower-middle class (44.6%), moderate anxiety was seen in BPL class (60%) & severe anxiety in Upper class (28.8%). The pandemic had affected people across different social & economical groups financially as well as mentally to a significant level.