Perceived Social Support and Psychological Well-being among

Hospitalized and Home quarantined Covid-19 Patients

Jonah Angeline, Research Scholar, VIT University, Tamilnadu.
(Jonah.angeline2019@vitstudent.ac.in)

Nanthini B, Research Scholar, VIT University, Tamilnadu. (nanthini.b2020@vitstudent.ac.in)

Dr.Maya Rathnasabapthy, Associate Professor, VIT University, Tamilnadu.

(maya.r@vit.ac.in)

Abstract

Covid-19 is a pandemic that affected not only the physical health of the people worldwide but
also affected their mental health. It changed the whole scenario of the world. People were
quarantined; schools and jobs are confined at home now. Social distancing is maintained
everywhere to prevent contamination. This social distancing creates lots of psychological
distress to many people like old age, sick and also people affected by Covid 19. Mortality rate
is also high in case of covid-19 and people who are hospitalized due to severity of infection
may not be able to cope up and lost their life. Unlike the other disease family and friends
couldn’t stay with the patient and support them in hospital. This may create a stress among
patients and may affects their psychological well-being. The objective of this study is to
compare the perceived social support and psychological well-being among hospitalized and
home quarantined Covid-19 patients. In addition, this study attempts to find out the
relationship between two variables. An online survey is conducted using purposive sampling
technique and by invitation through email and whatsapp to participate. A total of 62 patients
(31-Hospitalized and 31-Home quarantined patients) diagnosed with Covid-19 are included
in this study. Ex-post facto research design was used. Participants were asked to complete the
Google form consisted of Sociodemographic profiles form, Multidimensional Scale of
Perceived Social Support (MSPSS- Gregory Zimet) and Psychological General Well-being
Index (PGWBI- Dupay HJ) questionnaires. For analyzing the data Pearson correlation
method and t-test is used to test the relationship between two variables. The findings and the
implications of the study are discussed.

Keywords: Covid-19, Perceived Social Support, Psychological Well-being

Introduction

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), was originated in China, and the World Health Organization
(WHO) declared it as a public health emergency by on January 30th, 2020[1].  According to WHO, a
pandemic is defined as “an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing
international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people”[2]. After a sudden increase
in the number of infected persons, various strict measures were taken to control its spread by many
countries; especially a nationwide “lockdown” was declared to avoid the spread. Under the
nationwide lockdown, all places of social gatherings were closed. All sort of Employees except
medical workers, teachers, and students were being asked to work from home to avoid crowds. All
types of transportation services were suspended with exceptions for essential services.

After the identification of the infection Covid-19, people were asked to isolate themselves to avoid
spread of the disease. Based on the severity of the disease the patients were either hospitalized or
advised to get treatment under home quarantine. Due of the pandemic, visitors, family members or
friends are not allowed in hospital. Hence patients who are admitted in hospital may have lacked
social support. The less severity patients who were asked to stay in home are asked to isolate
themselves.

As Covid-19 is a pandemic and proper medicine is not yet found people are worried about it. There is
lot of death cases due to Covid. Many covid patients felt anxiety and depression and their
psychological well-being will be disturbed. Social support is contingency for psychological well-
being.

There are many studies that supported the positive relationship between social support and
psychological well-being. When more social support is provided to chinese and Korean immigrants,
their psychological well-being is also increased (wong, yoo and stewart (2007). Adding to that a study
vy Skok, Harvey & Reddihough (2006) showed positive impact of social support on well- being. A
study by Schulz & Decker (1985) said that people who observed them as having more social support
had more level of psychological well-being. And It is highlighted that less social support is
associated with decrease in psychological well-being (WHO 2000).

The need for this study is to see the relationship between social support and psychological well-being
among home quarantined Covid patients and hospitalized Covid patients.

OBJECTIVES

 To study perceived social support among home quarantined Covid-19 patients and hospitalized
Covid-19 Patients
 To study psychological well-being among home quarantined Covid-19 patients and hospitalized
Covid-19 Patients
 To study psychological well-being among Covid-19 patients in respect to perceived social support.
 To study the relationship between perceived social support and psychological well-being among
Covid-19 Patients.

HYPOTHESES

H-1: There will be significant difference in perceived social support among home quarantined Covid-
19 patients and hospitalized Covid-19 Patients.

H-2: There will be significant difference in psychological well-being among home quarantined Covid-
19 patients and hospitalized Covid-19 Patients.

H-3: Perceived social support would be positively related to Psychological well- being of covid-19
patients
 Definition of Variables

Social Support

Social support can be defined as “the cumulative support provided by family members, friends,
professionals, and members of the same social network, has positive effect of life satisfaction,
happiness, as well as physical wellbeing(Fernandes, Moreira, Conceicao, Santos & silwa,
2014;Tam and Lim,2009; Eom, Shin, and Kim et. Al.,2013; Helgeson,2003)

Psychological well-being:
Psychological well-being is somewhat malleable concept which is to do with people’s feelings
about everyday life activities. Such feelings may range from negative mental states or
psychological stains such as society, depression, frustration, emotional exhaustion, unhappiness,
dissatisfaction, to a state which has been identified as positive mental health (Jahoda 1958, Warr
1978).

Methodology

SAMPLE

To analyse the effect of social support on psychological well-being among covid patients samples are
collected from Chennai, Tamilnadu. A convenience sampling method was applied. Samples age range
from 18 to 52. This study included 64 patients with confirmed Covid-19 positive and The sample
consists of 32 hospitalized covid-19 patients and 32 home quarantine covid-19 patients. Patients who
are lack of consent or non-cooperation participants were excluded from the study.

Procedure

Data were collected through an online questionnaire. An online survey was conducted using
convenience sampling method and by invitation through email and whatsapp to participate.

A total of 64 Covid-19 Patients (32-Hospitalized and 32 Home quarantine Covid-19 patients) were
asked to complete the Google forms of socio-demographic profiles form, Multidimensional Scale of
Perceived Social Support (MSPSS- Gregory Zimet) and Psychological General Well-being Index
(PGWBI- Dupay HJ) questionnaires.

Tool Description

Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social support (MSPSS) :

The questionnaire consists of 12 items in the form of statements with 7 point- Likert scale ranging
from 1 (Very strongly disagree) to 7 (Very strongly agree) and its measures perceived social support
from three sources: Family(items 3,4,8 and 11), friends (items 6,7,9 and 12) and significant others
(items 1,2,5 and 10). The reliability correlation coefficient was 0.84 for the perceived social support
scale.
Psychological well-being (PGWBI):

A twenty two item scale as a quick measure of Psychological Wellbeing is reliable and valid tool. The
internal consistency and test-retest reliability were found to be good in healthy individuals and patient
groups separately (Cronbach’s alpha range: 0.93-0.92; intra class correlation coefficient range: 0.88-
0.99).

Results and Discussion

Table 1: Mean, SD and t-value of Perceived social support among Hospitalized and home quarantine
covid-19 patients

Variable Treatment N Mean t ρ

Undertaking

Perceived Home 32 5.69 -1.001 0.32(NS)

Social quarantine
support Covid-19
Patient

Hospitalized 32 5.40
Covid-19
patient

The ‘t’ value indicates that there was no significant difference in perceived social support between
home quarantine and hospitalized Covid-19 patients. H-1 stating that, “There will be significant
difference in perceived social support among home quarantined Covid-19 patients and hospitalized
Covid-19 Patients” was not accepted.

Table 2: Mean, SD and t-value of Psychological well-being among Hospitalized and home quarantine
covid-19 patients

Variable Treatment N Mean t ρ

Undertaking

Psychologica Home 32 3.19 2.31 0.024*

l well-being quarantine
Covid-19
patient
 Hospitalized 32 2.68
Covid-19
Patient

*Significant at 0.05 level

The ‘t’ value indicates that there was a significant difference in Psychological well-being among
hospitalized and home quarantine covid-19 patients. Hence, the H2 stating that “There will be
significant difference in psychological well-being among home quarantined Covid-19 patients and
hospitalized Covid-19 Patients” was accepted.

Table 3: Relationship between Perceived social support and psychological well-being among covid-19
patients

Variable Mean Correlation (r)

Perceived social support 5.54 0.13

Psychological well-being 2.94

The “r” value shows that perceived social support and psychological well-being are positively related.
It can be understood that when the perceived social support increases psychological well-being also
increase. Therefore, H3 stating that “Perceived social support would be positively related to
Psychological well-being of covid-19 patients” was accepted.

There was no significant difference in perceived social support among hospitalized and home
quarantines covid-19 patients.

Home quarantine Covid-19 patients had better Psychological well-being compare to Hospitalized
Covid-19 patients.

Perceived social support positively related to psychological well-being of Covid-19 patients.

Conclusion

The aim of the study is to find the relationship between social support and psychological well-being.
Also to see the difference on social support and psychological well-being among hospitalized covid
patients and home quarantined covid patients. The results show there is positive relationship between
social support and psychological well-being. This result supports the studies done by vy Skok, Harvey
& Reddihough (2006) As the social support increases the psychological well-being also increases
among both hospitalized and home quarantined covid patients. Compared to hospitalized covid
patients, patients who were home quarantined had better psychological well-being. This may be
because the patients who are in hospital may have high level of anxiety and depression. The result
also showed there is no significant difference in perceived social support among home quarantined
covid patients and hospitalized covid patients. This may be due to the technology advancement. Even
though family, friends, colleagues may not physically present near the patients in hospital they would
have contacted them through mobile phones and would have rendered their support.

Since this study didn’t reveal who gave the support and what kind of the support given to the patients
a detailed study on types of support given can be done. also a gender comparison study can be
conducted to see the gender difference on perceived social support and psychological well-being
among covid patients

Reference

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