Research projects

Pune Police Department and Center for Police Research, Pune had requested the organization to conduct a psychological survey to analyze the effects of the lockdown on society. This project was conducted “Free of Cost” by the organization as a part of social responsibility

This lockdown had a huge impact on the society. People were trapped in different cities, due to industrial lockdown- workers lost their jobs, due to fear of a fetal virus-people started feeling anxious etc. This situation was very helpless, but we observed that people are using their coping mechanisms to adjust with this situation. People with a positive mindset are adjusting with this situation positively. But all people are not privileged enough to enjoy their life without a monthly salary. A huge class in our country was highly affected due to industrial lockdown. People had no food to eat, they were forced to leave their houses in cities door to inability to pay rents and these people were hugely turning towards addiction, criminal tendencies, suicides etc. This research is an attempt to understand the effects of lockdown on the society. It studies the coping mechanisms of individuals belonging to different age groups, economic status, professions etc. and tries to understand the reasoning for their style and tools of adjusting.

The problems that arose from this lockdown, the growing threat of corona, people’s constantly changing mindsets, growing uncertainty and negativity- were all factors that needed to be studied. Researches regarding this shed light on what actions were implemented by the most affected population groups.

The survey was to evaluate the coping process of society in this situation and analyze if the coping is positive or negative. Variables like Coping, Depression, Addictive Behavior and Criminal tendency were measured in this survey cum research. The sampling techniques used in this research were purposive and snowball sampling. This was done by taking into consideration different groups of people who represent the whole population.

The aim of the research was to see which coping behaviors lead to depression, suicidal ideation, criminal tendency and addictive behavior.

It was observed that in daily wage workers higher the maladaptive coping, the higher was the level of depression. And higher the depression higher was level of maladaptive coping. Such correlation was also seen between Depression and criminal tendencies as well as between addiction and criminal tendencies. For the financial status insights correlation between Depression and Addictive Behavior was observed. Increased levels of addiction were means of higher depression and vice versa. Just like that increased depression led to increase in criminal tendencies. And similarly increased level of addictive behavior also led to higher level of criminal tendencies.

The daily wage workers found it very difficult to fulfill their primary needs and most of these families faced lack of jobs, significant rise in levels of alcohol consumption and experienced stress regarding issues like basic necessities, education, and marriage of children and when will they their jobs.

The essential service providers were overworked and were tirelessly working during the pandemic. Doctors and the police were concerned about their families and coworkers. The doctors were constantly in contact with the patients which created a lot of mental and physical stress on them. The police and other people in this service were disturbed due to carelessness of the citizens.

Government service employees found it hard to adjust to the vastly changed schedule. As the system was not equipped with the work for home the employees had to spend the first few months sitting idle at home. They were stressed by the thoughts of financial difficulties, increasing number of patients and were also worried about the poorer elements of the society.

The private sector workers working from home but their workload had increased multifold. The increase in working hours, unavailability of necessities and salary cuts were the reasons that caused stress.

The people who owned their own business went through financial crisis. And the students were worried about their partially completed education. They had to adjust to online lectures. And the factors like uncertainty and fear of the future caused disturbance.

During this lockdown people tried to adapt minimalistic lifestyle. People stopped taking things for granted. People learnt to live on minimal needs and also learnt to adjust and adapt to the situation smoothly. People indulged themselves in their hobbies and took time to learn different things like cooking, baking, embroidery, new language, new instruments etc. Online workshops worked as a great medium for these learning processes. People could spend quality time with their families and could reconnect with their old friends. People become more health conscious. And also participated in social work

A lot people inculcated saving habits and engaged themselves into self-introspection. These habits must be encouraged and should not be forgotten. Healthy and flexible lifestyles should be motivated.