A Study of Behavioural Aspects of People at Home under Lockdown for Corona

Abstract : Purpose. The purpose of the paper is to examine behavioural aspects of people who work from home, and also those who are under lockdown for the Coronavirus pandemic. This we make out from a survey of people from different walks of life and concerned with a future they want. Methods and Materials. Essentially, a survey of 210 participants (183 Indians and 27 NRIs abroad), using a custom-designed questionnaire. Responses have been solicited using WhatsApp, on sending the questionnaire in Google Forms. The questionnaire has 35 questions, for collecting information on a variety of aspects, but particularly about their fears, confidences, worries, mental stress and trauma and how they have coped with their situation. Results and Discussion. Two hundred and ten people of all ages, 21-66 years, with about 69 per cent men and about 31 per cent rest women, and about 87 per cent Indians and about 13 per cent NRIs abroad, relate their positive as well as negative experiences. Professionals of 46 different sectors of the economy, with four-fifths of them working from home, they (90.9 per cent of them) speak of home as a safe zone. Yet, with three-fifths of them clearly understanding the seriousness of the situation and the pandemic crisis, about 57 per cent of them disturbed by the pandemic, they are burdened by work, feeling lonely (34.4 per cent) under lockdown, their family has people with psychological trauma (26 per cent), elderly with health concerns (in 28.5 per cent of their households), experiencing financial strains and loss (37.5 per cent of them), and yet spending quality time with family and children (62.3 per cent). They have troubled sleeping patterns (47 per cent) but take precautions for overcoming the virus (about 90 per cent), taking immune boosting foods (97 per cent), and taking care of the elderly (72 per cent). But the mixed situation at home and outdoors cause considerable behavioural changes and adjustments. This paper speaks of the behavioural aspects of the situation with revealed perceptions of people at home under lockdown.