Introduction: In response to covid-19 pandemic, Government of India declared nationwide lockdown in 2020, was slowly followed by regional lockdowns and curfews, restricted suddenly day to day life routine which has left impact not only physical health as well as our mental health by increased stress, anxiety, depression etc.
Objectives: This study tries to find out the difference between male-female of urban- rural areas on the basis of Anxiety and Depression severity among the participants of selected areas of North-24 parganas.
Methods: This study was conducted by e-question from 152 participants, 21-30 years during the lockdown on May 21-30, 2021. 80 participants are from urban areas (Barasat, Madhyamgram) 72 participants are from rural areas (Habra, Gobardanga, kurulia) of North-24- parganas, through convenience sampling. Psychological distress were measured by using GAD-7 scale and PHQ-9 scale.
Result: The result shows that the mean anxiety level found high among males 2.76(±1.26) than females 1.78(±0.87), high depression level is also found among males 3.26(±1.56) compare to female 1.95(±1.04), difference is statistically significant. In urban area anxiety severity found high 2.37(±1.26) than rural areas 1.81(±0.85), the difference is statistically significant. In case of depression severity urban areas show high mean 2.75 (±1.50) than rural areas 1.98(±0.99) and the difference is statistically significant. The study also shows positive correlation between anxiety and depression-severity with age.
Conclusion: The study conclude that, male faced more psychological distress than female. In rural area psychological effects of lockdown show less in participants than urban area, the more age increased the level of anxiety severity and depression severity increasing. Focusing on mental health no sufficient work available in anthropology among this community, so there is a scope to study and aware people about mental condition that covid brings in human life.
