Prathama Guha, Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata
Megha Rathi, Mrnali Singh and Yoshita Agarwal
University of Calcutta, Kolkata
The Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown have affected business entrepreneurs
and service sector individuals emotionally and financially. We aim to assess financial
stress and its impact on quality of life (QOL) and overall stress amongst business
entrepreneurs and service employees in the non government sector in Kolkata, a city
in eastern India. We explore the protective effects of existential thinking and positive
coping styles and compare the efficacy ofAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). 1000 business entrepreneurs and service
holders between 18-60 years were included in this cross sectional, randomized two
group design comparative study. Covid 19 Fear Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Financial
Stress Scale, WHO QOL scale, Brief Cope, Existential concern questionnaire, Existential
thinking Scale. ANOVA, ANCOVA, independent sample and paired t tests, hierarchical
correlation. Financial stress was higher in businessmen. QOL was higher among
service holders. Financial stress had positive association with Covid fear, low per capita
income and avoidance coping. QOL had negative association with perceived stress and
heightened existential concerns. ACT was more effective than CBT in terms of positive
outcome variables. There is significant difference in financial stress and QOL between
businessmen and service holders. Structured psychotherapy is an effective intervention.