A Study to Assess the Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Adults of Age 18–30 Years in Vengara Panchayath of Malappuram District, Kerala

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic hit India in 2020. The first case of infection was reported in the State of Kerala on January 27, 2020, and the continuous surge of cases, variants of concern, lockdown restrictions, social distancing, and economic impacts were increasingly testing the psychological resilience of the masses. When the global focus has been chiefly on testing, preventing transmission, and vaccination, people are going through a myriad of psychological problems in adjusting to their current lifestyles and fear of the disease. Materials and Methods: An online survey was conducted using principles of convenience sampling and by invitation through text messages to participants. The survey collected data on socio-demographic details and specific incidents that triggered participants’ mental health and measured psychological impact with the help of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) scale. Results: There were 275 responses from the Vengara Panchayath of Malappuram district, Kerala. The respondents’ ages ranged from 18 to 30. Overall, 93.54% of respondents had an extended psychological impact (IES-R score>24). Using the Chi-square test, there is no significant association between the demographic variables and the psychological impacts of COVID-19. Financial hardship during COVID-19 triggered respondents’ mental health (Male-62.67%, Female-58.4%). Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic in India, almost one-third of respondents had a significant psychological impact. This shows a need for a more longitudinal and systematic assessment of the psychological needs of the population, which can help the government formulate holistic interventions for affected individuals