ABSTRACT
Long duration of quarantine has shown to significantly influence lifestyles of the entire population. The study was taken to determine the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic era on physical, mental, recreational and socio-economic factors of the general population of India. Four hundred and forty healthy volunteers were enrolled from different zones of the country using chain-referral sampling in a web-based E-survey on Google form platforms. A structured and validated questionnaire consisting of participants' demographic details, physical, mental, recreational and socio-economic changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic was sent via social networking sites (WhatsApp, Facebook, and Messenger). The association between demographic characteristics and self-reported physical, mental, recreational and socio-economic changes by participants during COVID-19 crisis was analyzed using chi square and spearman rho test. The response rate to survey was (sent to 500 individuals;440 reverted back) 88%. The demographic characteristics were significantly associated with physical, mental, recreational and socioeconomic changes observed during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis among the general population (p < 0.05). Strict compliance was observed among (n=239) 54.31% participants who were staying indoors all the time during the Lockdown phase. (n= 238) 54.18% reported they were regularly performing moderate-intensity activities (50%-70% Max. HR), (n=282) 64% were indulging in recreational activities and (n=322) 73.18% participants were doing regular household chores. (n=269) 61.13% self-reported being happy. Financial loss was perceived by (n=230) 52.27% of participants. Amid all this external state of crisis significantly large proportion of participants were observed being in a happy relaxed state of mind and also utilized this time to gain health benefits and pursue their hobbies. Overall Participants self-reported an enhanced sense of wellbeing.