The National Teachers College

School of Arts, Science and Technology

Field Methods in Psychology

(Prelim: Task 2 & 3)

ATIENZA, Francine Rijel C.

DAYAWON, Princess Carmela T.
OLASO, Maria Jhoesanie O.

BSPFS-F8
Correspondence
 The National Teachers College
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INTRODUCTION

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new strain of

coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan,
China, in December 2019. COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus
2, and measures taken to curb its spread have profoundly affected every aspect of day-to-day life
around the world. On 30 January 2020, the Philippine Department of Health reported the first case
of COVID-19 in the country with a 38-year-old female Chinese national. On 7 March, the first
local transmission of COVID-19 was confirmed. The Philippine Government’s lockdown,
implemented on March 2020, stipulated severe restrictions on social contact, on the ability for
many people to work, and greatly reduced access to services. Early indications showed a serious
impact on employment and livelihoods, income, and personal debt. Coupled with a substantial
amount of worry about future insecurity.
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created a global health crisis
that has had a deep impact on the way we perceive our world and our everyday lives. A pandemic
is not just a medical phenomenon; it affects individuals and society and causes disruption, anxiety,
stress, and stigma. The behavior of an individual as a unit of a society or a community has marked
effects on the dynamics of a pandemic that involves the level of severity, degree of flow, and after
effects. The rapid transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 from human-to-human resulted in the
enforcement of regional lockdowns to stem the further spread of the disease. Isolation, social
distancing, and closure of educational institutes, workplaces, and entertainment venues consigned
people to stay in their homes to help break the chain of transmission. However, the restrictive
measures undoubtedly have affected the social and mental health of individuals from across the
board. As more and more people are forced to stay at home in self-isolation to prevent the further
flow of the pathogen at the societal level, the government must take the necessary measures to also
provide mental health support to the people.
Quarantine and self-isolation can most likely cause a negative impact on one’s mental health. A
review published in The Lancet said that the separation from loved ones, loss of freedom, boredom,
and uncertainty can cause a deterioration in an individual’s mental health status. This study will
show on how people faced their life during this time of pandemic and how they cope up.
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REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The COVID-19 pandemic is the defining public health crisis of our time and the greatest
threat we have faced since the Second World War. Since its appearance in Asia late last year, the
virus has spread to all continents. The outbreak of COVID-19 was rapidly transmitted at the end
of January 2020 and aroused tremendous global interest. According to Naoya Itoh et al., An
outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by a novel acute respiratory syndrome
of coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) occurred in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, at the beginning
of December 2019. The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International
Significance by the World Health Organization on 30 January 2020. This new virus and disease
were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, and continuously spreads all over the
world. People who are infected with the virus are more likely to experiences respiratory illnesses.
The virus infects the body by invading healthy cells. There, the invader makes copies of himself
and multiplies all over your body. The new coronavirus attaches its spiky surface proteins to
receptors on healthy cells, particularly those in your lungs. (Bhargava MD, 2015). Most infected
people experience common symptoms such as fever, dry cough, and tiredness and also include
aches and pains, sore throat, diarrhea, headache, loss of taste or smell difficulty breathing on or
shortness of breath and chest pain or pressure. Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a disease caused by a
virus that can spread from person to person, as per World Health Organization stated that COVID-
19 virus spreads mainly by droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person
coughs or sneezes. Doctors and nurses were advised to wear masks and face shields and other
Personal Protective Equipment for them to protect avoid getting infected by the virus.

Pfefferbaum and North, (2020) found that a recent review of psychological sequel in
samples of quarantined people and health care providers may be instructive; it revealed numerous
emotional outcomes, including stress, depression, irritability, insomnia, fear, confusion, anger,
frustration, boredom, and stigma associated with quarantine, some of which persisted after the
quarantine was lifted. Specific stressors included greater duration of confinement, having
inadequate supplies, difficulty securing medical care and medications, and resulting financial
losses. In the current pandemic, the home confinement of large swaths of the population for
indefinite periods, differences among the stay-at-home orders issued by various jurisdictions, and
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conflicting messages from government and public health authorities will most likely intensify
distress. A study conducted in communities affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
in the early 2000s revealed that although community members, affected individuals, and health
care workers were motivated to comply with quarantine to reduce the risk of infecting others and
to protect the community’s health, emotional distress tempted some to consider violating their
orders. Given that most Covid-19 cases will be identified and treated in health care settings by
workers with little to no mental health training, assessment, and intervention for psychosocial
concerns must be administered in those settings. Ideally, the integration of mental health
considerations into Covid-19 care will be addressed at the organizational level through state and
local planning; mechanisms for identifying, referring, and treating severe psychosocial
consequences; and ensuring the capacity for consulting with specialists. Circumstances during a
pandemic such as quarantine brought so much stress to people because of limited resources and
activities that may help to cope up with the situation especially to the people who are used to deal
with the stressful situation by going out or hanging out with their social support. Aside from
physical pain, it is not rare for confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 to experience extreme
psychological distress and other health problems. Health practitioners are no exception, since they
have a duty of care for infected patients, close contact with family/family patients, and often face
a public inquiry. Confirmed and suspected cases of COVID-19 can experience fear of serious
disease consequences and contagion. As a result, they may feel isolation, denial, anxiety,
depression, insomnia, and despair, which may decrease adherence to care. Some of these situations
can also pose an increased risk of aggression and suicide. Suspected isolated cases can suffer from
anxiety due to confusion about their health status and develop other mental health disorders.
Furthermore, safety protocols such as strict quarantine and mandatory contact tracing policies by
health authorities might lead to financial loss, discrimination, and stigmatization.

Wen-li et al (2020). Psychological responses have a vital role to play in influencing both
the transmission of the disease and the incidence of emotional distress. People who are under
suspicion of having the virus or even the people who are infected usually experience discrimination
or social rejection because of fear of contaminating the virus that is why most of them possessing
 The National Teachers College
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unhealthy emotions such as anxiety, loneliness, and fear that weakens their immunity also resulting
to harmful thoughts and suicide. Mamun and Griffiths (2020) found that March 20, 2020, a 36
years old Bangladesh man who committed suicide because of people from his village thought that
he was infected of the virus since he was returned from Dhaka his autopsy results were negative
to Covid19 but he has a fever and weight loss that people used as a basis and avoid him. Thus,
cases of a suicidal individual are continuously increasing worldwide before the pandemic. The
incidence and mortality of coronavirus-2019 disease (COVID-19) have increased significantly
worldwide. Most of the suicide cases are caused by prejudice and social avoidance. Psychological
responses play a key role in affecting both the spread of the disease and the incidence of mental
distress and mental problems throughout and after the outbreak. People who are susceptible to
psychological challenges are particularly vulnerable. One survey of 1,210 respondents from 194
cities in China in January and February 2020 showed that 54 % of respondents valued the
psychological effect of the COVID-19 outbreak as moderate or severe; 29% reported moderate to
severe anxiety symptoms, and 17% reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms.
Notwithstanding possible response bias (W. Cullen et. al, 2020). Strong safety measures such as
isolating yourself for 14 days my cause stress and the feeling of loneliness those unnecessary
emotions may be one of the risks that may worsen the physical health of an infected individual.
These also trigger harmful decisions such as suicide. However enough amount of help to financial
resources unhealthy feelings and emotions caused by fear but it might lessen the probability of
having mental problems
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RESULTS

This part will present the results of the data gathered about the thoughts, feelings, and
behavior of the chosen individual aged 18-41 years old that were affected by the COVID-19. The
following answers were answered:

1. Gender

Gender
4.5 13.6

81.8

MALE FEMALE PREFER NOT TO SAY

The questionnaire was answered by twenty (20) selected individuals. The graph shows that
sixteen (16) female individuals which are equivalent to 81.8% answered the questionnaire while
there are 13.6% or three (3) male individuals answered the questionnaire and 4.5% or one (1)
person prefer not to say the gender.

2. How many hours are you able to spend outside on average during the lockdown?

4.5 4.5
9.1

18.2
63.6

0-1 hour per day 2-3 hours per day

4-5 hours per day 6-8 hours per day
Doesn't go outside
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The figure describes the percentage of respondents who answered the hours that they spend
outside during lockdown. There are twelve (12) or 63.6% respondents who spent 0-1 hours outside
during lockdown, while four (4) or 18.2% respondents said that they spent 2-3 hours outside. The
two or 9.1% respondents said that 4-5 hours are spent outside during lockdown and one or 4.5%
respondent answered 6-8 hours. The remaining 1 answered does not go outside.

3. Do you thing lockdown is a good idea?

22.7

13.6
63.6

YES NO MAYBE

The graph shows that there are twelve (12) or 63.6% respondents that agreed thinking that
lockdown is a good idea to control the increasing cases, while there are five (5) or 22.7% said that
the lockdown is not a good idea while the remaining three (3) or 13.6% is not sure if the lockdown
is a good idea to control the cases.

4. This pandemic has brought me a lot of stress.

36.4

63.6

STRONGLY AGREE AGREE DISAGEE

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In the question, there are four choices but only two of them were chosen. The twelve (12)
or 63% respondents strongly agree when they asked if the pandemic brought them stress while on
the other hand the eight (8) or 36.4% of the respondents agreed in the question about the stress
they felt during the pandemic.

5. What are the current crisis worries you the most?

Unemployment
Health crisis
COVID-19
The Government and the fact that we’re still lockdown after 6 months.
The crisis worries me the most is when I overthink a lot with just little things because I
am not able to go hang out with trusted friends which is helpful in order for my social
life and in order to distract my over thinker self.
My family getting the virus.
Online Learning
Finances
Food Supplies, Lack Of Fund And Incompetent Government.
My studies and things I need to do for my business.
A lot of the cases in countries.
The table shows the different things that worry to the respondents. The majority of the
respondents answered the most thing that worries them the most is the COVID-19. While the other
respondents are worried about being unemployed, online class, government, overthinking, stress,
financial problem, business, and the increasing cases in the country.

6. What are the things that you miss doing the most before this crisis? Please select as
many as apply from the list below:

GOING TO CHURCH

GOING TO SCHOOL

GOING TO WORK

HANGING OUT WITH FAMILY

0 20 40 60 80 100
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The figure shows the list of the things that the respondents miss doing before the virus
occurred. It is stated there that they can check as many as they can regard with their answer. There
are twenty-one (21) or 95.5% answers stating respondents miss hanging out with their family and
friend, there are four (4) answers stating that respondents miss going to work and there are 18
eighteen (18) or 81.8% answers saying that respondents miss going to school. Lastly, there are
fourteen (14) or 63.6% answers stating that respondents miss going to church.

7. Have you faced any specific challenges during the lockdown period? Please select
as many as apply from the list below:

FEELINGS OF SUICIDE 5
SUBSTANCE ABUSE 0
ANXIETY AND PANIC 5
FINANCIAL STRESS AND PRESSURE 13
PROBLEMATIC ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP 5
CHALLENGING FAMILY RELATIONS 11
DEPRESSION 6
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

In the graph, it shows the different challenges that each individual experiencing during the
lockdown period. There are five (5) respondents who answered that suicide comes across their
mind. There are also five (5) respondents who answered that they are experiencing anxiety and
panic. The majority of the respondents answered that they are challenged with financial stress and
pressure that have thirteen (13) answers. For the problematic romantic relationship, there are five
(5) respondents who answered this. When talking about family relations, eleven (11) answers were
recorded, and lastly, six (6) answers were from the challenge regarding depression.
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8. What do you feel about the current situation right now?
Worried
Anxious
The current situation right now makes me feel more stress than the usual life that I
have before like having an online class. Also, dealing with family problems and
financial problems.
Scared
I feel like I’m wasting my time because to be honest I don’t do anything. Also, I’m
quite anxious because every month there are bad unexpected happenings.
I can say that I'm okay with the current situation right now because the number of
covid cases in our province is decreasing in number but sometimes I feel not okay and
I get irritable.
Surviving
Stress
Overthinking
Frustrated
Tired
The table shows the different answers regarding the feelings of each respondent about the
current situation that the country has right now. The majority of the respondents answered stress,
worried, and anxious this current time. While other respondents answered scared, wasting time,
feeling not okay, surviving, overthinking, frustrated, and tired from the current situation that the
world is facing right now.

9. During the lockdown, I get my COVID-19 updates from the following sources
(Select as many as apply):

DOES NOT GET ANY UPDATES

0
NEWSPAPER
0
SOCIAL MEDIA
21
FAMILY AND FRIENDS
14
NEIGHBORHOOD
6
TELEVISED SPEECHES FROM THE…
21
0 5 10 15 20 25
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The graph shows the different ways of getting updates about COVID-19. The respondents
select one or more choices of their own. There are twenty-one (21) answers in social media, while
there are fourteen (14) answers in family and friends. The respondents also get an update from the
neighbor with six (6) answers and there are twenty-one (21) answers getting news from televised
speeches from the government. Lastly, no one selected the newspaper and not getting updates.

10. During the lockdown, I have communicated with others by doing one or more of
the following (select as many as apply):

VIDEO CALLING
16
TALKING FAMILY AND FRIENDS THU PHONE
10
TALKING TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS ONLINE
18
CHATTING WITH PEOPLE I LIVE WITH
17
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

The graph shows the different ways of how each respondent communicates with other
people. Each respondent chose the things that they are related to. There are sixteen (16) answers
in video calling. When talking to family and friends online, there are eighteen (18) answers that
respondents chose while respondents talk to their family and friends through phone got ten (10)
answers. Lastly, chatting with people they live with got seventeen (17) answers from the
respondents.

11. How did you cope up with the tension caused of Coronavirus?

Pray
Eat and play
By having a quality time with my siblings by playing some indoor and online games.
Watching movies and listening to music.
Playing Mobile Games And Workout
I always pray with my family at the same time I always eat healthy foods.
I listened to worship songs, I watched k-dramas and movies (various genre), went on a
simple picnic. I played badminton.
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Levelled up my hygiene, Ignored the raising case of the virus and did not go outside.
By Entertaining Myself
Watching Youtube
Just think positive
By being productive
I just listen on what the DOH says on how to fight the COVID-19
Staying inside the house and pray always.
Just letting it all out, breaking down and moving forward. That's how life is.
The table shows the different ways that each respondent did to cope up with the tension
that the virus brought. The majority of the respondents answered praying and thinking positive
during a pandemic. The other respondents did was having quality time with their family, playing
online games, watching movies, and listening to worship songs. One respondent said that leveling
up his hygiene to prevent being infected. While other respondents said that they just stayed inside
the house for their safety and their families.

12. What did you do during the pandemic?

Open business
Spend more time with my siblings. Watching movies/series at Netflix. Reading wattpad
stories. Browsing the internet.
Eat, Sleep, Pray
Use my phone and read books. Mostly watch movies or anime.
I engaged myself with sport activities just in our backyard. I went to river and fields. I
attended webinars, online meetings, video calls, virtual convention and wedding. I developed
a closer connection with my family.
Binged watch series, helped the frontliners and street dwellers, adapted a workout routine,
started a youtube channel, and learn new things
Stay at house and rest
Studying Online
Been doing household chores
Chill
Trying to learn new things
Taking care of my baby
The table shows the different things that the respondents did during the quarantine. The majority
of the respondents answered praying during the quarantine. The other respondents opened up business for
extra income. Watching series, movies, and other videos are the only things that other respondents did.
While other respondents study online, doing chores, learning new things, and taking care of their babies.
 The National Teachers College
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13. Are you feeling anxious during these days?

13.6

86.4

YES NO

The graph shows the number percentage of the answers by the respondents regarding if
they are feeling anxious during these days. There are seventeen (17) respondents or 86.4%
answered yes while on the other hand there are three (3) or 13.6% answered no regarding their
anxious feeling.

14. Do you feel afraid that something bad may happened to you?

13.6

86.4

YES NO

The graph shows the answers whether the respondents feel afraid that something bad may
happen to them. There are seventeen (17) or 86.3% respondents agree with the question while
there are three (3) or 13.6% respondents answered No.
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15. What are the adjustments you did?
Research on business
Staying inside our house for a couple of months because most of the time I am not in
our house for some school activities.
Taking Vitamins
I guess one of the adjustments that I did is to stay at home and eat a bunch of healthy
foods. I’m a “go out” person and “eat-whatever-you-want” person so this pandemic
helps me to stay at home and also to eat a healthy foods.
Sometimes I need to isolate myself in order to have mindfulness activity but sometimes
I engage myself with positive. I choose pages and videos I watch in order for me not to
be triggered and stressed. I give time to worship God for a better life.
My sleep, and my schooling
Observe proper health protocols
Watching To Entertain Myself
Socialize with my family
Adjustment in education system
Normal Adjustment Like Having The Time To Rest And Relax.
Letting go of the toxicity
Wearing Facemask And Faceshield Every Time I Go Out
Preparing For School This Sem Online.
Staying at home as much as possible, being productive
The table shows the different adjustments that each respondent experienced during the
lockdown. The respondents did some research for their new business, stayed inside the house to
prevent being infected, eating healthy foods to boost the immune system, adjusted time in sleeping,
entertaining their selves, socializing with their own family, adjusted in the education system,
relaxing, letting go of negative thoughts, and wearing the required face shield and face mask.
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FINDINGS

Based on the survey that has been conducted by the researchers with twenty (20)
participants who voluntary answered the survey questions based on their experiences - it shows
that as the COVID-19 pandemic and its far reaching implications continue to unfold internationally
and here in the Philippines, people are now afraid to stay longer or away from their home due to
fear of might get and catch the virus. They also think that the implementation of lockdown is a
good idea. It also showed that this pandemic caused people a lot of stress. They are not just worried
about the virus but also worries to different things that is happening right now such as the rapid
change and continuously growth of the population of the unemployment rate. The government that
still has no concrete plan despite of being lockdown for six (6) months already and its
incompetence in facing the pandemic. The online class for the students. Lack of food supplies and
lack of fund and continuously growing rate of people getting infected by the virus. There are things
that is being missed before this crisis happened like going to church, going to school, going to
work and hanging out with friends and family.
Different challenges also occurred such as the feelings of suicide, anxiety and panic,
financial stress and pressure, problematic romantic relationship, challenging family relations and
depression. People feel worried, anxious, scared, frustrated, and tired to the current situation right
now. It makes them feel more stress than the usual life. It also showed the importance of getting
updated on what is the current situation it might be from the televised speeches of the government,
social media, family and friends and also from the neighborhood. It shows how important the news
nowadays because it is the way to be always updated to be well-known on what is happening.
This pandemic not just showed its negative impact to one’s mental health but lead people
on how to stay physically and mentally healthy despite of the crisis. During lockdown period, they
remain connected to their love ones by the means of talking with family and friends thru phone
calls, texts or online chatting and video calling and also the regular chatting to the family members
they lived and lockdown with. It also showed the different strategies of people on how to cope up
with the situation. It might be by the means of praying regularly, eating their favorite or comfort
food, playing games, having quality time with their siblings and other family member, entertaining
their selves, always thinking positive that this pandemic will stop nearly, staying and being
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productive all the time, listening on what the Department of Health says on how to fight the
COVID-19 and by just letting and accepting the situation right now. It also showed how people
adjusted to the new normal situation. Some of the started and grab the opportunity to open
businesses. Give importance to own health by eating healthy foods, regular exercise and being
hygienic all the time. They also grab this opportunity to have time to rest and relax. For some
students, they started to attend online classes and learn thru different online platform that their
schools/universities offer.
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INTERPRETATION

As the number of confirmed cases who got infected by the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
continuous to grow not just here in the Philippines but also globally – it’s easy to lose hopes and
brood over the negative side effects of any event, especially when a community battling a global
pandemic.
For every low, there’s a high and it’s true that even the current situation has a silver lining
to it. People have been busy living the life, most of the people have lost those real, genuine
moments they have with their loved ones. It could have been busy schedules, overwhelming school
works and other errands to do. Now, the COVID-19 situation somehow has positively impacted
the way people emote and maintain relationships. They get to spend their time with their family
and plan their work better. As life slowed down, they found ways to stay connected with people,
even if it is virtually or in person. Reconnect with their loved ones and retrospect.
Times have changed and people now are aware of how important it is to keep themselves
clean. These recent times have made people aware of how to be more hygienic. From shaking
hands to smiling from afar and waving hands, all the people had a lifestyle change but it is for the
good. People are now aware to cover their mouths when coughing. Sanitizing their hands after
touching anything else because they know what will happen if they don’t.
The quarantine welcomes ideas, tips, and tricks to beat the lockdown. The innovative minds
have been sharpening to stay connected and help one another. Many businesses have had to
reinvent themselves. They have had to undergo rapid digitalization and offer their services online.
This pandemic also posed a threat to the whole educational system. Schools, universities
and colleges have been shut down. It is saddening however educational institutions have found
ways to overcome this immensely challenging series of events. Classes have begun again and
thanks to the technology. Online classes have become the new norm for educational institutions.
It’s normal for people to experience wide range of thoughts, feelings and reactions
including – feeling of stressed or overwhelmed, anxiety, worry or fear and loss of interest in usual
enjoyable activities. These experiences are all understandable in the face of this significant
challenge. There has been loss of life or sudden and untimely death that is caused by the virus,
rapid changes to the way of life such as studying or going to school, working, social gatherings
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and disrupted plans due to travel restriction and social (physical) distancing measures in all of the
efforts of the people just to slow down the spread and transmission from one person to another.
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CONCLUSION

COVID-19 has had undeniable and horrific consequences on people’s lives and the
economy. With sickness, death and unemployment rates soaring almost everywhere on the whole
world it is easy to despair but on the other hand it gives people to learn and reflect from the situation
that is occurring. It helps people to understand the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on the mental
health is as important as understanding its clinical features, transmission patterns, and
management. Spending time with family members, involvement in healthy exercises and sports
activities and taking a break from all the work and school loads can help to overcome mental health
issues. Public awareness campaign focusing on the maintenance of mental health in the prevailing
situation are urgently needed.