Research Proposal: Covid-19 Impact on Lifestyle and Mental Health

This research proposal investigates the multifaceted impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on people's lifestyles and mental health, while also examining the crucial contributions of social workers. It begins by outlining the problem: the rapid spread of the virus and its far-reaching consequences, including job losses, business closures, and the shift to virtual education, all of which led to widespread fear and confusion. The literature review highlights existing research on behavioral changes, mental health challenges, and the specific roles of social workers in supporting affected populations. The research methodology is detailed, including a qualitative research approach, inductive approach, and interpretivism philosophy, with data collection via surveys and secondary sources. The proposal outlines the sampling strategy, data analysis techniques, and considerations for reliability, validity, and ethical practices. Research questions address the pandemic's effects, social worker techniques, challenges faced, and recommendations. Finally, the proposal includes a brief budget outline.

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC OF RESEARCH PROPOSAL............................................................................................3
PROBLEM DUE TO WHICH RESEARCH CONDUCTED.........................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................4
AIM OF RESEARCH......................................................................................................................6
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................6
Research type...............................................................................................................................6
Research approach.......................................................................................................................6
Research philosophy....................................................................................................................7
Data collection.............................................................................................................................7
Sampling......................................................................................................................................7
Data analysis................................................................................................................................7
Reliability and validity................................................................................................................7
Research limitations.....................................................................................................................8
Ethical consideration...................................................................................................................8
RESEARCH QUESTIONS.............................................................................................................8
RESEARCH BUDGET...................................................................................................................9
 REFERENCES.......................................................................................................................1

TOPIC OF RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Impact of Covid-19 on the lifestyle and mental health of people along with effective
contribution of social workers
PROBLEM DUE TO WHICH RESEARCH CONDUCTED
At the end of 2019 and early start of 2020, majorly all of the countries were introduced to new
and deadly virus that comes in front of everybody with a name as Covid-19. It was highly
infectious virus and initially thought that it only affects the most populated countries. But that
was not true. In the early duration of time, it has been identified by various researchers that the
nurses and the social workers are the primary targets for the spread of this virus. With the
expansion of Covid-19 virus the life of each individual has changed drastically. Jobs were lost by
many people, business stores closed, education requires virtual type of learning and stay at home
orders creates lockdown condition all over the world. All changes had been done for the
betterment of the society and prevent them to have that disease. Hospitals and front line workers
are overwhelmed as they exceeded the capacity and experienced limited resources (Tahir, S.M.,
2020). Spread of lot of confusion and fear among society as the virus became more prominent in
nature.
This disease creates various issues related to spreading this virus and considered that China
is the originator of the virus and reason for the outbreak of this disease. Changes happens in quite
quick manner that it is challenging to know the real facts and reasons about the accurate reason
of virus and its effects on individuals, communities and families in worldwide population.
However, there are multiple opportunities in which the front line workers can participate in order
to help the people living in society with their complete dedication and assist them in order to
relieve stress, anxiety, and trauma, fear and confusion kind of situations among the society.
Staying up to date regarding current facts and figures helps individuals a lot in order to handle
and fight against such pandemic situation in somehow effective manner. Social workers had
great responsibility in order to support exposed population and in such case almost entire world
becomes helpless with the spread of such dangerous virus. Initially, the pandemic disease was
thought to affect the elderly people and those which are already having some health issues to be
most at the risk, but as long as the virus distributes, it had been spread irrespective of age and
work.

Throughout the course of this whole pandemic situation, it has been identified that there are
major issues that highly affects the system from vary long term but after introduction of this
issue the problem arises in front of everyone which includes bad healthcare system, economic
decline, massive unemployment and various other social major issues that highly affects an
individual’s lifestyle in complete manner (Rossi, M., 2020). Due to lack of preparation regarding
any pandemic issue, development of effective policies has been slow and incompatible in the
areas of funding, travel restrictions, educating the public and many others. As the whole problem
concluded at the macro level and creates majority of changes in the lives of individuals
contributing towards the area of education, employment, health issues, social networking and
many more within the society. This drastic change within the external environment leads to
many serious changes in the life of people and requires social workers in a position of
completion of responsibilities in order to organize research and provide prolonged services to the
centre of population.
LITERATURE REVIEW
As per the view of Bordnick, P.S., (2020), it has been defined that the World Health
Organization declared the Covid-19 disease as a global pandemic as it was new and unknown
infectious virus that proved from initial times vary crucial for each individual within the society.
Thus in initial duration, each scientist tries their best to compare it with other diseases which also
affects the respiratory system within the people. At that dangerous duration if time, the
requirement of effective treatment and development if vaccine is highly important as it greatly
and constantly affects the people daily life activities in most crucial manner.
According to the Rashidi, T.H., (2021), this disease requires majority of behavioural changes
within each individual in whole manner as each person is concerned about their day to day
activities along with employment opportunities. Most of the people had lost their job during this
pandemic situation. Governments of each country had been highly concerned about the situations
and the measures that need to be taken in order to save the lives of people living in society. The
infectious disease experts recommended behavioural changes and formulate the guidelines in a
manner to stay at home, no travelling, social distancing, no social gathering, wearing f mask, use
sanitizers and frequent hand wash.

The requirements if hospitals and social workers staff members who are professional to
handle such situation are extremely required. The whole pandemic situation affects the mental
health of individuals as well as it generates various health issues related to people perception
towards looking their lives and thus generate stressed environment as a whole. As the infection
goes on increasing, the death rates are also increases because there is a kind of fear that has been
generated within all of the persons who goes out even for their personal urgent work as well. But
the requirement of treating quick spread virus in order to understand the whole situation gets
priority in front of resolving mental health issues within the people. Although most of the
programmes in order to soothe local public had been conducted by individual region government
in order to provide them effective environment to live somehow stress free from such disease.
Fisher, J., et.al, (2020) described that social work during this pandemic situation has faced
one of the most challenging times in order to cover urgent social requirements in this uncertain
scenario. Considering the important situation the social workers isolated the people who do not
have support to have food but have infected family members and are in charge of minor children
without anybody’s support. After evaluating such situation, it has been analysed that the impact
of pandemic is highly on basic requirements of people i.e. food and shelter. This situation
implied as obstacle for the development of the usual services that were required to be resolved on
priority basis. Many social resources for homeless people have closed or limited in their
scheduled manner. This has left homeless people even more helpless and caused difficulty in
accessing even basic things required such as the possibility to have items to eat. This whole
impact requires urgent need of social workers in order to minimise the negative effects of this
pandemic situation within the society and certain measures has been taken by them in order to
help the people facing problems within the society. From the complete analysis it has been
generated that protective measures are the major problems arises within the society and thus
people are facing heath issues and services related problems. However, majority of people are
facing unemployment problems as well. Thus, social workers try their maximum in order to
obtain necessary equipments in order to provide help to the society people. Regarding
coordinating with social workers, it is important to highlight the use of virtual tools in various
different situations to ensure team communication. Moreover, they are able to share situational
requirements with the help of effective tools of communication with the help of advanced
technologies.

AIM OF RESEARCH
To analyse the effect of Covid-19 on the lifestyle and mental health of people along with
social workers contribution
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research type
Research has been classified into two categories which are Qualitative and Quantitative. In
order to analyse the impact of Covid-19 on the lifestyle and mental health status of people along
with the contribution and measures taken by health workers will be explained with the help of
qualitative research type method which has been chosen in order to describe and analyse the
study in detailed format.
Research approach
Research approach has been divided into two parts i.e. Inductive approach and Deductive
approach. In order to analyse the ways to identify problems related to issues that has been arises
due to introduction of Covid situation within the society and the measures that needs to be taken
by human service workers will be explained in effective manner with the help of inductive
approach (Blustein, D.L., 2020). This approach helps in order to examining and measuring
qualitative study in proper and appropriate manner.
Research philosophy
There are majorly two types if philosophies that has been utilised at the time of working
such as Interpretivism and Positivism. For the purpose to complete the present study,
Interpretivism approach or philosophy has been conducted which helps in order to evaluate this
study in most efficient manner.
Data collection
Data can be collected through two mediums that are primary and secondary. In order to complete
this report, the primary data will be collected through the survey that will be conducted on 30
random people through the mode of questionnaire. Furthermore, the studies related to the

impacts and effects of Covid-19 situation upon the mental health and complete lifestyle of the
people along with the contribution of social workers in order to overcome from such drastic
situations will be analysed and evaluated through the development of brief thesis about the topic
and secondary data will also been collected with the help of various journals, articles and
previous studies (McKibbin, W. 2020).
Sampling
For the purpose of this examination, researcher is required to choose suitable samples in
order to generate proper conclusions with the help of this complete research. Thus, for the
purpose of conducting survey, 30 random people will be selected referring to the purposive
sampling technique.
Data analysis
In order to examine the scholar collected responses from the mode of survey, thematic
perception test technique will be engaged. This particular technique will be utilised because it
helps in analysing the qualitative data in most efficient way. According to this study, themes will
be prepared in order to complete the research on this particular topic in detailed manner.
Reliability and validity
In order to ensure the credibility features towards the completion of study upon this
research article, the data will be ensured that it is published after the period of 2016. Apart from
this, research topics articles will be chosen which shows that research will be completed in
effectual way. Moreover, secondary data collection helps in taking the copyright protected
content into consideration which represents reliability aspects of research.
Research limitations
Unavailability of resources, limited time duration and monetary restrictions will be taken
as the major limitations while conducting this research. Because of limited duration and money
measures, the quantitative tool will not be selected by the scholar. In order to avoiding the
overall effects of limitations on the study, thematic analysis will be conducted.

Ethical consideration
In order to avoid any unethical practices, consent form will be signed by the randomly selected
people for the purpose of survey. This activity will also display the inclined participation of
selected people towards the study (Chen, P., 2021). However, a list of references will be added at
the end of the research proposal which possesses that the work will not be copied from
somewhere else and thus provides proof of their originality.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
 How introduction of Covid-19 situation does affect the lifestyle and mental health status of
people?
 What are the techniques that has been utilised by social workers in order to minimise the
effects of Covid effects?
 What are the different challenges faced by human service workers?
 What are the various recommendations related to the way a social worker can utilize in order
to resolve serious issues that has been generated due to Covid-19?
RESEARCH BUDGET
Expenses Amount in $
Computer 150
Printer 50
Scanner 20
Books and journals 200
Transportation 300
Communication devices 100
Food and drinks 150
Survey articles 50
Miscellaneous 100
Total $ 1120

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Haider, I.I., Tiwana, F. and Tahir, S.M., 2020. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adult
mental health. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 36(COVID19-S4), p.S90.
Del Boca, D., Oggero, N., Profeta, P. and Rossi, M., 2020. Women’s and men’s work,
housework and childcare, before and during COVID-19. Review of Economics of the
Household, 18(4), pp.1001-1017.
Saltzman, L.Y., Hansel, T.C. and Bordnick, P.S., 2020. Loneliness, isolation, and social support
factors in post-COVID-19 mental health. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research,
Practice, and Policy.
Shakibaei, S., De Jong, G.C., Alpkökin, P. and Rashidi, T.H., 2021. Impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on travel behavior in Istanbul: A panel data analysis. Sustainable cities and
society, 65, p.102619.
Fisher, J., Languilaire, J.C., Lawthom, R., Nieuwenhuis, R., Petts, R.J., Runswick-Cole, K. and
Yerkes, M.A., 2020. Community, work, and family in times of COVID-19. Community,
Work & Family, 23(3), pp.247-252.
Blustein, D.L., Duffy, R., Ferreira, J.A., Cohen-Scali, V., Cinamon, R.G. and Allan, B.A., 2020.
Unemployment in the time of COVID-19: A research agenda.
McKibbin, W. and Fernando, R., 2020. The economic impact of COVID-19. Economics in the
Time of COVID-19, 45.
Hu, S. and Chen, P., 2021. Who left riding transit? Examining socioeconomic disparities in the
impact of COVID-19 on ridership. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and
Environment, 90, p.102654.
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