Psychological Impact Of Covid-19 On Academic Activities Of Academic Researchers: A Repertory Grid Analysis

Abstract

This study investigated the psychological impact due to the emerging COVID-19 pandemic on the activities of academic researchers by using the repertory grid analysis technique. It was hypothesized that COVID-19 had a negative significant psychological impact e.g., panic disorder, obsessive behavior, anxiety, paranoia, depression, and fear of being infectious. A repertory grid was administered to Ph.D. Education scholars of public sector universities of Punjab. There were 20 respondents who took part in the study and they were selected by snowball sampling. Research activities engage students in different activities and let them work together in a collective institutional environment. This practice keeps their mental health good. On the other side, isolation is a provoking factor in the mental health of individuals. The isolation or quarantine state of a well-socialized person may cause stress disorder, frustration, and confusion. Study concluded that the pandemic (COVID-19) has significantly affected the psychological state of academic researchers. The academic researchers are facing psychological problems e.g., fear of being infectious, depression, rapid change in mood variations, impulsive actions, the feeling of anger, feeling loneliness being in home confinement, waves of sadness, feeling of helplessness, and panic. The severity of symptoms is different from person to person.