International Council for Education, Research and Training

Psychosocial Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Women’s Mental Health

Kumar, Sandeep 1

1Professor of Chemistry, and ‘by courtesy of psychology’, NIILM University Kaithal, Haryana

Simran2

2Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce & Management, Imperial College, Hisar, Haryana

Abstract

Women mental health and impact of psychosocial factors on it, is highlighted in various psychological & clinical studies, due to pandemic made it a matter of more focus. Studying the long-term impacts of the coronavirus on society, our mind, body and its analysis perhaps will take more time. Out of the total population, a number of people felt a disrupted sleep as a hallmark of the pandemic, and suffered from depression, insomnia, irritability, violence including domestic violence, distress, work pressure due to online culture of work, and other related negative mental health symptoms as idiosyncratic attributes especially in covid sufferers. Covid-19 pandemic has altered family dynamics. More screen time, unended & fluctuated routines, for working women dissolving boundaries in workplace and personal life altered & flicking habits, all impacted mental health adversely. The human brain is evolved to live in social groups & wired for social interactions, epidemiological studies conducted on covid survivors, convalescents & victims shows altered brain biochemistry due to various psychosocial factors including financial losses, social isolation, intimate partner’s negative mental state, discrimination, disrupted sleep & routines, etc. Pandemic might has altered the romantic and loving relationships, and adversity of such psychosocial factors impacted people. Psychological strengths and resilience mainly depend on social determinants like social support, social culture, respect, engagement at workplace, parenting style in childhood & emotional attachment, society & family bonds, self-regulation & behavior controlling, and collective efficacy, all these determinants are positively associated with self-esteem that have direct impact on enhancing psychological strengths. Population for the study as participants were females in early adulthood & studying, professional and housewives. For data analysis, the statistical tools, descriptive, co-relational and regression analysis is used. The study focuses on effect of adverse aspects of adversity like pandemics financial crises like job losses, allowances or salary deductions, led to economic abuses, and somewhere gender discrimination, sexual abuse, household workload, escalation in family members expectations and responsibilities, adverse impact of these psychosocial factors on women’s mental health and role of education, knowledge, skills, and aptitude i.e. abilities & cognitive competencies in coping and managing the adversities like pandemic. 

Keywords: Mental Health, Psychological, Social, Women, Depression, Stress, Self-esteem, pandemic, covid-19

Impact Statement

Covid 19 pandemic impacted adversely to most of the world population. Negative impacts ae not only short term but also long term, still researchers are working on finding the long term impacts on the large population. This research mainly focus on the impact of covid 19 on the early adulthood females and role of the their cognitive competency in coping and managing such adversities. The research reveals that educational level with high level of knowledge, skills and aptitude (abilities) enhance the cognitive competency which ultimately support in decision making in such adversities. Various social factors associated with cognitive competence plays and important role in coping and managing the adverse conditions. This study will provide an insight to young researchers for further research on psychosocial factors and their impacts on cognitive competence. 

About The Authors

Dr Sandeep Kumar is working as Professor of Chemistry and ‘by courtesy of psychology’ NIILM University Kaithal Haryana, and have more than two decades experience in teaching, research, curriculum development, counselling and leadership. His areas of interest are chemical education, research, behavioural science, teacher education and practices. As resource person, he has conducted more than 225 training programs for the school and higher education teachers. He has been awarded with numerous prestigious National and International Awards. He has participated and presented research articles in more than 200 National and International conferences. He has been invited as keynote speaker, guest of honour, conference chair, and resources person in various National and International Conferences. He is associated with various National and International Organizations. 

Dr Simran is working as Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce and Management, Imperial College Hisar. She has 13 years of rich experience in leadership, curriculum development and teaching at school and higher education level. Her area of research is accounting, taxation, human resource management and teaching-learning. She has attended more than 70 conferences, seminars and workshops. She has presented her research in various National and International Conferences. She has been awarded with 8 prestigious Awards. 

References

 

  1. Antai, D., Oke, A., Braithwaite, P., & Lopez, G. B. (2014). The effect of economic, physical, and psychological abuse on mental health: A population-based study of women in the Philippines. International Journal of Family Medicine, 2014, 852317. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/852317

  2. Campbell, A. M. (2020). An increasing risk of family violence during the Covid-19 pandemic: Strengthening community collaborations to save lives. Forensic Science International. Reports, 2, 100089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2020.100089

  3. García-Moreno, C., Zimmerman, C., Morris-Gehring, A., Heise, L., Amin, A., Abrahams, N., Montoya, O., Bhate-Deosthali, P., Kilonzo, N., & Watts, C. (2015). Addressing violence against women: A call to action. The Lancet, 385(9978), 1685–1695. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61830-4

  4. Gearhart, S., Perez-Patron, M. P., Hammond, T. A., Goldberg, D. W., Klein, A., & Horney, J. A. (2018). The impact of natural disasters on domestic violence: An analysis of reports of simple assault in Florida (1999–2007). Violence and Gender, 5(2), 87–92. https://doi.org/10.1089/vio.2017.0077

  5. Kumar, S. (2021). Psychosocial impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on school educators’ mental health and role of cognitive competence in coping with such adversities. International Journal of Biological Innovations, 03(2), 323–330. https://doi.org/10.46505/IJBI.2021.3212

  6. Kumar, S. (2023). Artificial intelligence learning and creativity. Eduphoria-An International Multidisciplinary Magazine, 01(2), 13–14. https://doi.org/10.59231/eduphoria/230402

  7. Kumar, S. (2024a). The Relationship between Cognitive Behavior therapy (CBT) and Depression Treatment Outcomes: A review of literature. Eduphoria-An International Multidisciplinary Magazine, 02(3), 20–26. https://doi.org/10.59231/EDUPHORIA/230410

  8. Kumar, S. (2024b). Patience catalyst for personal transformation. Eduphoria-An International Multidisciplinary Magazine, 02(2), 77–80. https://doi.org/10.59231/eduphoria/230408

  9. Malhotra, S., & Shah, R. (2015). Shah R. Women and mental health in India: An overview. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 57(6), Suppl. 2, S205–S211. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.161479

  10. Mburia-Mwalili, A., Clements-Nolle, K., Lee, W., Shadley, M., & Yang, W. (2010). Intimate partner violence and depression in a population-based sample of women: Can social support help? Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 25(12), 2258–2278. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260509354879

  11. Sehgal, R., & Kaur, A. (2024). Role of mindfulness and stress management in enhancing life skills for sustainable living. Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, 03(2), 289–294. https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7704

  12. Stylianou, A. M. (2018). Economic abuse experiences and depressive symptoms among victims of intimate partner violence. Journal of Family Violence, 33(6), 381–392. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-018-9973-4

  13. World Health Organization. (2004). Promoting mental health: Concepts, emerging evidence, practice (Summary Report). World Health Organization.

  14. Patil, J.B. (2023). Emerging Trends and Challenges in Post COVID -19 World of Education System. Shodh Sari- an International Multidisciplinary Journal, 02(01), 11–20. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7750170

  15. Singh, P., & Singh, N. (2023). Investigational analysis on crisis caused by Covid- 2019 on sustainability of teaching learning process. Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, 02(01), 29–43. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7750208

  16. Kumar, N. (2023). A Study of the Holistic and Multidisciplinary Education and Its Major Challenges in the Special Perspectives of National Education Policy, 2020. Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, 02(01), 44–53. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7752390

  17. Anchal, A., & Anita. (2022). The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Home Environment among Senior Secondary School Students. Shodh Sari- an International Multidisciplinary Journal, 01(01), 04–12. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7697866

Back

Contact​

Visit our main website www.icert.org.in

Copyright © 2024  International Council for Education, Research and Training  – All Rights Reserved.

Scroll to Top