Title: Mental health issues and sleep quality of Indian employees and higher education students during COVID-19 lockdown

Authors: B.L. Radhakrishnan; E. Kirubakaran; R.V. Belfin; Sudhakar Selvam; K. Martin Sagayam; Ahmed A. Elngar

Addresses: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, 641114, India ' Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, 641114, India ' Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, 641114, India ' Department of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu, 603203, India ' Department of Electronics and Engineering, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, 641114, India ' Faculty of Computers and Artificial Intelligence, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef City, Salah Salem Str., 62511, Egypt

Abstract: India implemented a prolonged lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19. Our study aimed to assess the mental health difficulties and influence of lockdown stressors among Indian higher education students' and employees of the government, private sector during the COVID-19 lockdown. We collected the basic demographic, sleep generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), perceived stress scale (PSS) and sleep quality data from 676 participants using a web-based cross-sectional survey. Among the participants, the overall prevalence of GAD and PSS were 22.9%, 15.7% (low), 79.4% (medium), 4.7 (high), respectively. Younger participants reported higher GAD and PSS symptoms. Lockdown stressors have a significant correlation with GAD and PSS. In addition, the increased mobile phone usage significantly affects sleep latency, and sleep quality (p < 0.001) is a subject of concern. As part of global preparedness measures, continuous monitoring of sleep and the psychological impacts of outbreaks should become standard practice.

Keywords: COVID-19; lockdown; pandemic; coronavirus; mental health; mental healthcare; anxiety; depressive symptoms; stress; sleep; sleep quality; sleep duration and pattern; mobile usage; GAD; generalised anxiety disorder; PSS; perceived stress scale.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIEI.2021.117060

International Journal of Intelligent Engineering Informatics, 2021 Vol.9 No.2, pp.193 - 210

Received: 23 Nov 2020
Accepted: 13 Feb 2021
Published online: 13 Aug 2021 *

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