Age and Gender Differences in Coping Strategies Used by Individuals During COVID-19 in India

Abstract

Objective: The present study examined age and gender differences in the coping strategies used by people falling in the Striver/Global Indian economic class, living in India in urban settings at the time of COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The sample consisted of 200 people aged between 15-64 years out of which 57.5% were women and 42.5 % were men, falling in the Strivers/Global Indian Class. The data for the present study was collected using Brief-Cope scale by Charles S. Carver (1997) to measure ways of coping with a stressful life event. These 28 items generate subscales scores on 16 dimensions. Results: The results showed that there was no significant difference found in the overall coping strategies on the basis of age and gender. Although significant differences were found in the subscales – on the basis of age, a significant difference was found out between the coping strategies used by youth and working age group in self-distraction, active coping, religion and self-blame; on the basis of gender significant differences were found out between coping strategies used by men and women in Religion and humor subscales.