A Study on Psychosocial Health of Work from Home Information Technology (IT) Employees during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Sushmitha  Saran; S Gopalakrishan; Hariharan; Ananthaeashwar  VM

doi:10.5455/njcm.20211109045518

Authors

Sushmitha Saran Department of Community Medicine, Sree Balaji medical college& hospital, Chennai
S Gopalakrishan Department of Community Medicine, Sree Balaji medical college& hospital, Chennai
Hariharan Department of Community Medicine, Sree Balaji medical college& hospital, Chennai
Ananthaeashwar VM Department of Community Medicine, Sree Balaji medical college& hospital, Chennai

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5455/njcm.20211109045518

Keywords:

Stress, sleep deprivation, IT professionals

Abstract

Background: In order to control the risk of COVID-19 many employees have been asked to work from home & generally away from their workplace. Working from home may cause negative impact on employees’ mental health as it increases social isolation which is associated with high risk of psychological distress and depression.

Aim: The study was done with the aim to assess the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on psychosocial health and well-being of Information Technology (IT) employees who is working from home.

Methodology: This study is a cross-sectional descriptive study, conducted at Chennai district of Tamilnadu. Around 210 samples were collected based on convenient sampling method. A semi structured questionnaire was used to collect data and the data analyzed using SPSS 22 software.

Results: Out of the participants, 74% of the employees felt that their work time has been increased due to work from home. On multiple regression analysis, variables like gender, marital status, average working hours per day were found to have statistically significant.

Conclusion: Chennai is a metro city with high population of IT professionals. Individual workload has increased within a short deadline, which has led to increased stress, sleep deprivation that resulted in many psychosocial problems.

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