Imlisongla Longkumer and Sashirenla Mollier
Nagaland University, Kohima Campus, Meriema
The Coronavirus disease(COVID-19) spread so quickly across the globe causing
loss of lives and leaving many terrified and grief stricken. Psychological distress in the
form of depression, anxiety and stress experienced by the general population during
the COVID-19 have been reported from different countries including from parts of
India. The study aimed to assess psychological distress amongst the people of the
North East(NE) India during the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine how such
experiences are related with hope and GSE. The role of socio-demographic factors
including gender, age, education, chronic illness and economic loss were also examined.
Sample comprised of 827 adults recruited online from the eight states of NE India.
Materials used included the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21,the Herth Hope
Index, and the Generalized Self Efficacy Scale. Data was analyzed using descriptive
statistics, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal Wallis tests, and Spearman’s Rank Difference
Correlation. Psychological distress in the form of depression, anxiety and stress were
observed in a good number of the participants. Hope and GSE were both found to be
negatively correlated with experiences of psychological distress during the pandemic.
Significant differences were observed by gender, educational level, marital status and
age. Psychological distress was also found to be higher amongst people having chronic
illness and /or those having encountered economic loss during the pandemic.