Decoding Pandemic Stress: Analysing Mental Health of Tea Workers in India

Abstract

This research article aims to investigate the factors that affected the mental health of tea workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study provides essential insights into the psychological factors affecting tea workers during this critical time. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires from 532 tea workers in the north-eastern region of India. The collected data were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling approaches. The study found that all the factors investigated significantly impacted employee stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, safety perception and contagion risk were found to have the strongest influence on stress, followed by unknown and information overload, social exclusion and humiliation, monetary loss and job uncertainty, and quarantine and restraint. Additionally, the study confirms that stress at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic can lead to depression among tea workers, which is also related to insomnia and relationship troubles. Investigating the various dimensions of COVID-19 stressors among tea workers is crucial for the government and management to understand the root causes of the problem. By understanding the contributing factors to mental health issues, we can develop appropriate interventions to support the well-being of tea workers, providing a blueprint for mitigating the potential adverse effects of future pandemics.