LOCKDOWN DUE TO COVID-19 CREATING TOLL ON PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING OF TEACHING COMMUNITY IN INDIA.

Abstract

The present research work has envisaged to turn challenges imposed on Indian teaching community due to lockdown period due to COVID-19 into the opportunities for better professional development and to have a better evolved and adapted psyche. This research study was conducted to study psychological well-being of Indian teaching community in relation to the use of lockdown period due to COVID-19. The study was conducted by taking a sample of 1122 teachers from schools, colleges and university teaching departments. The psychological well-being of teachers was studied on emotional issues, behavioral issues, psychiatric effects and effect of stress triggers by using an online questionnaire. As an Independent variable use of lockdown period was also studied which included the dimensions; use of social media, engagement in house hold work, engagement in academic and professional work, involvement in physical fitness activities, spending time in hobbies involvement in social services. The collected data was analyzed by using mean, standard deviation, percentage, t-test and correlation. The results of the present study indicated that a large proportion i.e 56.15% of Indian teaching community is facing issues of psychological well-being like anger, depression, anxiety, insomnia during this lockdown period due to COVID-19. The main stress triggers; have been experienced by 41.9% of total teaching community. The female teachers have better psychological well-being in comparison with male teachers. And Psychological well-being of teaching community is significantly related to the effective use of lockdown period. The psychological well-being improves if the lockdown period is utilized in professional growth, physical fitness and social service. This conclusion of the study indicates the need of sound psychological well-being of teachers which can be build up by utilizing the lockdown period effectively.