Impact and Coping Mechanisms of COVID-19 Pandemic on Scientists in State Agricultural Universities of Northern India
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Date
2022
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Punjab Agricultural University
Abstract
The study entitled “Impact and Coping Mechanisms of COVID-19 Pandemic on Scientists in State Agricultural Universities of Northern India” was undertaken with the objectives, of studying the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on scientists in State Agricultural Universities of northern India, studying the coping mechanisms adopted by them against the impacts of COVID-19 and the institutional strategies designed for preparing the scientists with regard to COVID-19 pandemic. 203 scientists were selected from PAU where 101 of them were female and 102 were male while, 77 scientists were selected from CSK HPKV where 27 of them were female and 50 were male. 20 scientists were selected from KVKs by random sampling where 10 were female and 10 were male. Thus, a total sample of 300 scientists was selected for this study from both the SAUs and 10 KVKs. The data was collected with help of an interview schedule constructed for the scientists in SAUs and a questionnaire for the KVK scientists. The findings revealed that in both the SAUs and KVKs, average social, physical, economic and professional impact index was increased during complete lockdown than before pandemic and these impacts except physical impact was reduced during partial lockdown. Average psychological impact index was also increased during lockdown than before pandemic. Most of the scientists perceived mixed feelings with regard to the extent of happiness and anxiety both. Social impact had a positive and significant relationship with professional and psychological impact whereas professional impact had a positive and significant relationship with psychological impact. Professional impact had positive and significant relationship with physical impact. During complete lockdown gender, family size and COVID-19 infection significantly affected the social impact whereas during partial lockdown gender and family size were significantly associated with social impact. During complete and partial lockdown age and COVID-19 infection had a significant physical impact. COVID-19 infection to themselves and family members had a significant economic impact. During lockdown gender, COVID-19 infection to themselves and family members had a significant psychological impact. All of the scientists used social media as a coping mechanism. Majority of them from PAU, CSK HPKV and KVKs preferred online meetings in the future. Among the institutional strategies, 50% strength of working staff during covid-19 was the highly implemented strategy in PAU and CSK HPKV whereas work from home policy and online training programmes and webinars for farmers were the highly implemented strategies in KVKs. It is recommended that online education and trainings should be strengthened the scientists to prepare for such pandemics in future.
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Kar, Shreya (2022). Impact and Coping Mechanisms of COVID-19 Pandemic on Scientists in State Agricultural Universities of Northern India (Unpublished M.Sc. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.