Post Millennials’ Mental Health: Addressing Implications of COVID-19 Pandemic

Post Millennials’ Mental Health: Addressing Implications of COVID-19 Pandemic

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

The study is based on the Behavioral Immune System (BIS) theory, Stress Theory and Perceived Risk Theory. According to BIS theory, individuals are likely to create negative feelings (e.g., aversion, uneasiness, etc.) and negative cognitive evaluation for self-protection. Confronted with potential illness risk, individuals tend to develop avoidant behaviours (e.g., avoid contact with individuals who have pneumonia-like indications) and comply with social standards entirely (e.g., conformity).

According to stress theory and perceived risk theory, public health crisis causes more negative emotions and even impair cognitive assessment as well. The threatening event is the stressor, and the response is coping action that leads to adaptation and improvement if successful and leads to additional coping efforts if unsuccessful. In case the stress condition proceeds for a lengthy sufficient time without alleviation, it can lead to physical or mental disorders.

Utilizing the principles within the theoretical framework helped to figure out the range where to probe and assess the well-being of post-millennials, thus made a difference to design the research questions to the study. These theories will be the basis of this study.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

This study will assess the mental health of post-millennials during COVID-19 pandemic and assist policymakers in developing policies, and help medical practitioners provide services to the affected population in Catbalogan City.

Specifically, the study aimed to attain the following:

1. assess the traumatic-stress resulting from the pandemic
2. evaluate the negative health impact as to the following:

• stress from work
  • financial stress
    • 3) stress from home
      • horrified feelings to friends/relatives infected
        • apprehensive due to the pandemic
          • 6) helpless feelings due to the pandemic
            • frightened feelings due to the pandemic

3. evaluate the impact on Social and Family Support as to the following:

• support from friends
  • support from family
    • 3) sharing feelings with relatives
      • sharing feelings with others
        • caring for family member’s feelings

4. evaluate the impact on Mental Health – Related Lifestyle Changes as to the following:

• attention to mental health
  • time for rest and relax
    • 3) exercising

5. assess the media exposure since the time of the lockdown

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

It shows in figure 1, the conceptual framework of the study. The first three boxes on the upper part are the factors to be assessed which are under the three boxes nearest to the center. The two boxes beside the center box will also be evaluated directly to determine its impact on the mental health status of the individuals. So, the five boxes surrounding the center box will be the determiners to assess the effect of COVID-19 pandemic to the mental health of post-millennials.