Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal

Vol-03, Issue-04 (Oct-Dec 2024)

An International scholarly/ academic journal, peer-reviewed/ refereed journal, ISSN : 2959-1376

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

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7769

Subject: Psychology / Women’s Studies

Page No: 366–375

Received: Dec 17, 2023

Accepted: April 20, 2024

Published: Oct 01, 2024

Thematic Classification: COVID-19 Pandemic Impact, Women’s Mental Health, Psychosocial Factors, Gender-Specific Challenges, Emotional Wellbeing, Pandemic Coping Mechanisms.

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. 

Cite this Article

APA 7th Style: Kumar, S., & Simran. (2024). Psychosocial impact of Covid-19 pandemic on women’s mental health. Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, 3(04), 366–375. https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7769

Chicago 17th Style: Kumar, Sandeep, and Simran. “Psychosocial Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Women’s Mental Health.” Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal 3, no. 4 (2024): 366–375. https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7769.

MLA 9th Style: Kumar, Sandeep, and Simran. “Psychosocial Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Women’s Mental Health.” Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, vol. 3, no. 4, 2024, pp. 366-375, https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7769.

Statements & Declarations

Review Method: This article underwent a double-blind peer-review process by two independent external experts in Clinical Psychology and Social Sciences to evaluate the interdisciplinary analysis of pandemic-induced stressors and the validity of the psychosocial outcomes discussed.

Competing Interests: The author Sandeep Kumar and the author Simran declare that they have no financial, personal, or professional conflicts of interest that could have inappropriately influenced the research findings or the psychological assessments presented in this work.

Funding: This research was conducted as part of the authors’ academic and professional activities at NIILM University and Imperial College. No specific external grants or commercial funding were received for this study.

Data Availability: The analysis is based on a synthesis of empirical studies, psychological reports, and psychosocial health data observed during the post-pandemic recovery phase. All referenced literature and qualitative data trends are cited within the manuscript.

License: Psychosocial Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Women’s Mental Health © 2024 by Sandeep Kumar and Simran is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. This work is published by the International Council for Education Research and Training (ICERT).

Ethics Approval: As this study is a qualitative review and psychosocial analysis based on existing data and psychological frameworks, it was deemed exempt from formal ethical review by the Institutional Research Committees.

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