European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EMOTIONAL RESPONSES AND SELF-PROTECTIVE BEHAVIOR WITHIN DAYS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC-A QUESTIONNAIRE BASED SURVEY

Sreevidya S.*, Bismi S. and Dhanya Dharman

ABSTRACT

Aim: To assess Emotional responses and self-protective behavior within days of the covid-19 pandemic. Objective: 1. Assessment of their engagement in self-protective behaviors. 2. Assessment of their emotional and behavioral responses to the situation. 3. Assessment ofperceived subjective knowledge. 4. Assessment of, perceived credibility of different sources of information. Methodology: A prospective online based observational survey was carried out using the information gathered from genarel population in kerala. This study provides the Emotional responses and self-protective behavior within days of the covid-19 pandemic. The study was carried out for a period of 1 month and have sample size of 150 participents. The data were collected using questionnaires. Results and Conclusion: The participants reported some degree of concern and fear of contracting COVID-19 even before the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed. The reported severity of the disease and perceived possibilities of containing its spread before it reached were rated at females being slightly more afraid and perceiving the disease as more severe. The findings of this study suggest that public have of a relatively high level of self protective behaviour within the days of COVID-19. In addition, good emotional response and self protective behaviours is associated with higher education level and medical profession suggesting that health professionals including medical doctors, pharmacists, nutritionists and dentists can play an important role in educating communities. Low education population have more emotionally voulnarable and least self protective behaviours. The health authorities should concentrate on these groups in order to further prevent COVID 19 pandemic from spreading.

Keywords: COVID-19, mass communication, information credibility, negative emotions, self-protective behaviors, psychological response, health communication.