Psychological Health of Young Adults as Measured through Internalising and Externalising Scores of Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire

Abstract

Uncertainties since COVID-19 outbreak time have affected the mental well-being of almost everyone, including young adults. During the first wave of COVID-19, the unprecedented lockdown affected the mental health of individuals more than the disease itself. This study is meant to identify behavioural and social dysfunction problems in young adults due to COVID-19 disease and its after-effects. An online cross-sectional survey was designed using 17+extended English version of the Strength and Difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) to identify the behavioural and social dysfunction problems in young adults in India due to COVID-19 disease and the consequent lockdown / forced quarantine during the first wave of the pandemic. During the period of May-June 2020, the survey was carried out through Google forms among college/university students. A total of 1020 responses were obtained out of which 772 responses who reported social dysfunction issues were selected. Data was analysed statistically. The four ‘Difficulty’ scales were grouped into ‘Internalizing’ and ‘Externalising’ scores. The effects of gender and chronicity were tested on ‘Internalizing’, ‘Externalizing’ and ‘Impact’ scores. 46.21%, 53.79 %, and 22.30 % of respondents were under significant risk categories for Impact score of social dysfunction, Internalizing, and externalizing scores of behavioural problems respectively. There was a significant difference in observed numbers under all categories, irrespective of gender, from the expected SDQ standards distressed respondents as p value < 0.001. The effect of chronicity is there on Impact scores. Irrespective of gender, the prolonged lockdown due to COVID-19 is affecting the psychological behaviour of young adults.