A Web-Based Survey of COVID-19 Pandemic and its Impact on Physical, Recreational, Mental Health and Socio-Economic Factors of General Population of India

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.