Life in Lockdown: The Psycho-Social Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Young Indians

This study attempted to assess the lived experiences of the Covid-19 related lockdown on young Indians living in urban areas of the country. Psycho-social impacts of the lockdown on the self and on family interactions were studied. Fifteen participants (aged 18-25 years) were interviewed, nine weeks into the lockdown. All interviewees lived with their families and had one family member working as a front line healthcare worker in the fight against Covid-19. The data from the interviews was analyzed using thematic analysis. The interviews revealed that the lockdown had adversely impacted the participants' sense of agency. The threat of the pandemic influenced the entire family system with tremendous concerns about the virus spreading to the entire family, particularly to grandparents. The impact of electronic mass media was said to be overwhelmingly negative, evoking feelings of anger and pessimism. For some participants the large amount of time spent in the vicinity of their family meant more disagreements. Yet for others, it brought the family closer. The main ways of coping with challenges were social support, developing new skills, being on social media and keeping the mind distracted. Several participants also reported that with time, they had adjusted to some of the demands of the lockdown and even seen positive changes in themselves. When asked if the participants would be open to consulting a mental health professional for the concerns they were experiencing, most did not consider their current situation dire enough to do so. Implications of the findings are discussed.