A Cross-sectional Study to Test Mediation Model of Psychological Adjustment in Relationship Between Social Support and Mental Health

Abstract

Since the outbreak of the Novel Corona virus Disease (COVID-19) many countries have resorted to lockdown to cope up with this situation including India. The lockdown has come at the cost of the economic health of Country and its cascading impact on all sections of the society. COVID-19 has not only caused depression and trauma in individuals, pressure of maintaining physical distance and confinement to their homes has caused uncertainty, anxiety and mental health problems. Amid the rising coronavirus pandemic problems surge across the country, many states of India have imposed restrictions and lockdown. This pandemic has affected the various aspects of human life and individuals are still facing post Covid-19 complications including stress, hopelessness, mental health problems and demotivating oneself. Lockdown and corona curfew have affected the normal life of human beings and it has been imposed to control the spreading of pandemic. This study is conducted to test the mediating role of psychological adjustment in social support-mental health relationship. Using a survey-based methodology and online questionnaires responses were obtained from 390 participants (N=390) of India. Cross-sectional correlational research design and snowball sampling method were used in this study. Obtained data was analyzed by using correlational, hierarchical regression analysis and mediation analysis by Hayes (PROCESS macro). Results of correlational analysis indicate that psychological adjustment and social support were found to be significantly positively correlated with mental health. Results of hierarchical regression analysis supports the obtained results of correlational analysis. Regression based approach; PROCESS macro was used to test the mediating role of psychological adjustment based on proposed mediation model. The results of mediation analysis revealed indirect effect of social support on mental health psychological adjustment. Psychological adjustment significantly partially mediated the social support-mental health relationship. The Findings from this study will provide empirical evidence for direct and indirect relationship among study variables. The results suggest that effective strategies primarily focusing on social support that are still needed to increase its effect on mental health through better psychological adjustment. The present study will be useful in policy making during such pandemics situations. Study limitations and future research were also discussed.