Action Research Project: Impact of Depression on Mental Health

This action research project investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, specifically focusing on depression. The study explores the causes of declining mental health, such as economic instability and exposure to negative news, and analyzes the impact of these causes on various age groups in the UK. The research employs both qualitative and quantitative methods, including surveys, to gather data and uses thematic analysis to interpret findings. The project examines how the pandemic has led to increased feelings of nervousness, stress, and changes in behavior, such as difficulty sleeping and altered eating patterns. The conclusion highlights the significant negative impact of COVID-19 on mental health, emphasizing the need for interventions and support to mitigate the effects of depression.

The impact of Depression
(Action research project)

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Background of the study.............................................................................................................1
Literature review..............................................................................................................................1
Theme 1: Causes of declining mental health during COVID-19................................................1
Theme 2: Impact of COVID- 19 upon mental health.................................................................2
Research methodology.....................................................................................................................3
Data Analysis...................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................14
Recommendations.....................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................16
Appendix .......................................................................................................................................17
Questionnaire............................................................................................................................17

INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
In the recent days, entire world is suffering from the pandemic disease i.e. COVID-19 in
which lacs of people died and this also creates negative impact upon mental health of people.
That is why, with the help of the current study, researcher draw attention towards the impact of
Corona virus upon mental health for different people. For that researcher uses secondary and
primary study in order to analyze the impact upon people and interpret the results in an effective
manner as well.
Rationale: The rationale for choosing this specific topic is to determine how the mental
health is affected by continuously watching negative news such that in the case of COVID-19.
That is why, the researcher have their personal interest to study on the particular topic in order to
realize the relationship between mental health status and disease. Also, another reason for
choosing this topic is such that study on this topic will assist to raise the knowledge with regards
to mental status of different age people during a pandemic disease.
Aim and objectives:
Aim: “ To investigate the mental status of different age group people during COVID 19: A study
on UK”
Objectives:
 To examine the causes of declining mental health during COVID-19.
 To analyze the impact of causes during COVID-19 upon mental health.
 To recommend the ways through which the mental status is improved under COVID-19.
Literature review
Theme 1: Causes of declining mental health during COVID-19
Hotopf and et.al., (2020) present their views that extremely poor people faces many issue
during this pandemic times because the entire country is shut down and there is no source of
income which lead to cause negative impact upon the mental health that leads to death as well.
On the other side, Torales and et.al., (2020) stated that among adults, the mental health is also
lower down because many of them are job less and they frustrated during the corona virus
pandemic time. Also, it is analyzed that people with mental health also affected the worst during
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this situation and this is because they are struggle with balancing work- related situation with
family obligation.
On the other side, Johnson and et.al., (2020) present their views and stated that most of
the old age people also depressed when they watch news and different things on TV related to
COVID-19 and this is creates a negative impact upon the overall mental health. So it is essential
for them to divert their mind in order to minimize the impact upon mental health. Also the
expenditure during this time is increases which also affected the person in opposite manner. That
is why, it is essential for all old age people to take care of themselves and lower down the mental
health issues as well. Also, with fluctuation in the economic condition of the country, most of
the people loss their job and this in turn affect their entire mental status in opposite manner as
well.
Theme 2: Impact of COVID- 19 upon mental health
In the view of Mcfarlane and et.al., (2020) the pandemic is a threat to the population
because it affect the overall health of people in opposite manner. Such that WHO also warn the
countries that this disease definitely cause negative mental health upon the people which directly
lead to cause depression. This will further affect the entire productivity of the companies in
adverse manner. Thus, it is analyzed that there are negative impact of COVID-19 upon mental
health. On the other side, Zhou and et.al., (2020) argued that many people experiencing acute
behavioral health problems and this further strain the healthcare system as well. Also the main
psychological impact to data is also elevated that during this time, the level of stress and anxiety
is increases. Though there are many measured which are taken by government but still, people
feel loneliness and depressed that affect their mental health in negative manner.
Further, Balasubramanian and et.al., (2020) stated that during this time, most of the
people faces job loss because of sudden downturn in the economic condition of the country and
this is consider the biggest cause for taking wrong decision. As WHO stated that around more
than 40% of the adult faces mental depression during COVID. As the pandemic increases, it is
also suggested by Bullmore and et.al., (2020) that this is likely increases the mental health issues
because of many reasons and even excessive watching news is consider the biggest reason for
changing the well-being of a person.
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Research methodology
Research Type: There are two different research types such that qualitative, in which
researcher mainly focus on gathering the information through an open data. On the other side, in
quantitative study, researcher wants to generate some relationship between the variables by
applying different test (Vogl, Schmidt and Zartler, 2019). So, in this study, investigator adopted
qualitative study because it will help to analyze the impact upon mental health due to COVID-
19. Also, this method allow for in-depth research and questioning of respondents which in turn
help to attain define goals of a research.
Research Philosophy: It is the belief or notion through which data is gathered and
analyzed. With the help of philosophy, investigator determine the nature and development of
knowledge. There are four types of research philosophy such that Realism, Positivism,
Interpretivism and Pragmatism (Cole, 2020).
From these, Interpretivism research philosophy has been chosen by scholar through
which they integrate the key element from a study. Also, with the help of this, scholar further
determine from the range of people that whether there is any impact upon the mental health due
to pandemic disease or not.
Research Approach: It is another type of research approach which is a plan and
procedure that span the steps from broad assumptions into a detailed method of data collection.
It is of three types such that Inductive, deductive and Abductive. From these all, Inductive
approach has been chosen in order to answer the research question so that they will proceed
towards the end of results. In the same way, for the current study, through this approach, scholar
reach towards a conclusion and takes a research towards specific observation as well.
Data Collection: It is a method of collecting information through different sources such
that primary and secondary. Thus, for this investigation, researcher chooses both types of data
collection methods. Such that under primary data collection methods, in which survey method is
used which is also known as first handed research. Further, under the secondary research
method, researcher uses relevant books, articles and journals which in turn help to meet the
determine the impact upon mental status due to pandemic disease.
Data Analysis: It is the process of transforming the information in order to discover the
useful information so that researcher make proper decision. Also, the purpose of data analysis is
to extract best and useful information which in turn assist to make decision. Hence, in this
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research project, researcher opted thematic data analysis method in which different tables and
graphs are presented that helps to look the entire research more presentable and examine the
views of respondents as well,
Sampling: It is the method of selecting respondent from an entire group and there are
two types of sampling method such that probabilistic and non- probabilistic (Abadie and et.al.,
2020). In these, simple random sampling methods is used in which 30 people are randomly
selected from UK who help to analyze the whether there is any impact upon mental status of a
people when they are suffering from the pandemic disease. Therefore, with the help of people's
views, it is easy for the researcher to examine the views and then take a decision accordingly.
Ethical consideration: This methodology stated the rules and provide guidelines
through which the researcher may conduct the entire study in better manner. Such that before
conducting the research, scholar must take a consent from the sample and this further help to
meet the define aim. Also, researcher should make sure that there must be proper
communication so that effective results may generated. Also, scholar should make sure that they
comply with Data Protection Act so that personal confidentiality may maintain properly.
Data Analysis
Theme 1: All the age group affected due to COVID -19.
Respondents
from 10-15 6
From 16 -25 4
From 26- 45 5
From 46 – 60 4
All of these 11
4

Interpretation: By conducting first handed research, it is to be analyzed that due to COVID-
19, variety of people affected as at world level, there are different age group who affected and
this range start from 1 day child to more than 80 people. So, while conducting survey, it is
reflected that 6 of them stated that people whose age is in between 10-15 are affected most,
while 4 answer 16 to 25 are affected, 5 stated 26 to 45 and 4 stated 46 to 60. But among all, 11
of these stated that all these age group people are affected due to pandemic disease.
Theme 2: Mental status of people affected due to COVID- 19 in opposite manner.
Respondents
Highly agreed 21
Agreed 6
Disagreed 2
Strongly disagreed 1
5
from 10-15 From 16 -25 From 26- 45 From 46 – 60 All of these
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
6
4
5
4
11
Respondents

Interpretation: According the graph, it is analyzed that mental status of people is directly
affected due to disease. Like, 21 out of 30 are highly agreed and 6 of them are agreed, only 1 is
strong disagreed and this shows that people at world level are highly affected. On the other side,
Zhang and Ma (2020) also supported that the mental status of a people is highly affected because
the entire world is lockdown and due to this most of the adult losses their job and this in turn
leads to them towards depression as well.
Theme 3: Rumors of COVID -19 leads to creates depression upon many people.
Respondents
Highly agreed 20
Agreed 7
Disagreed 2
Strongly disagreed 1
6
21
6
2
1
Highly agreed
Agreed
Disagreed
Strongly disagreed

Interpretation: From the above table, it is interpreted that negative news related to Corona
virus affected the mental health in opposite manner. This is also analyzed while conducting
primary research like, out of 30, 20 are highly agreed, 7 are agreed and only 1 of them are
disagreed. Therefore, it is analyzed that whenever they get any news related to COVID then it is
affected the well-being of people which directly leads towards depression. So, there is a need to
take care and indulge themselves into activities which do not cause negative results.
Theme 4: Most of the sample felt nervous and stressed
Respondents
Never 2
sometimes 5
fairly often 7
very often 16
7
20
7
2
1
Highly agreed
Agreed
Disagreed
Strongly disagreed

Interpretation: Through the diagram, it can be stated that majority of the selected respondents
are stated that very frequently they got nervous and stressed during the pandemic time. Like, out
of 30, 16 stated that very often and 7 answer fairly often while 5 of them stated sometimes.
Hence, it is evaluated that WHO also provided the news that the mental health issues are
suddenly increases due to this pandemic time and this cause opposite impact upon the health of a
people in negative manner.
Theme 5: Symptoms while people saw any news related to Corona Virus
Respondents
Leads to depression 16
Difficulty in sleeping and concentration 7
Changes in eating pattern 5
Fear and worry about own health 2
8
2
5
7
16
Never
sometimes
fairly often
very often

Interpretation: It is clearly analyzed from the above graph that this disease cause direct impact
upon the mental health and most of the people leads to depression. Such that while conducting
first handed research, it is analyzed that 16 out of 30 are stated depression is the direct impact
due to COVID- 19, while 7 answer difficulty in sleeping and concentration, also, 5 stated that
changes in eating pattern because most of the people do not have any work and this in turn leads
to affect their health. Only 2 of them stated that this cause to fear and worry about their own
health. Hence, it is clearly analyzed that this disease affected the entire mental status in opposite
manner.
Theme 6: There is a difference in ratio of depression and anxiety among different age
people
Respondents
Highly agreed 18
Agreed 7
Disagreed 2
9
16
7
5
2
Leads to depression
Difficulty in sleeping and
concentration
Changes in eating pattern
Fear and worry about own
health

Strongly disagreed 3
Interpretation: As per the primary research, scholar investigated that there is a high difference
in the prevalence o depression and anxiety among different age people such that every age group
is affected in adverse manner. Like, 18 out of 30 are highly agreed, 7 of them are agreed and 2
of them are disagreed. So, it is also supported by Aravena and et.al., (2020) that there is every
age people is suffered from the disease and majority of them are adult because of job loss, while
older people are physically obese because they do not go out and this all clearly reflected that it
affect the overall people towards stress and depression and many of them also leads towards
death too.
Theme 7: More than half of a day people watch news
Respondents
Once in a day 1
every two hours 2
more than half of the day 22
10
Highly agreed Agreed Disagreed Strongly disagreed
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
18
7
2
3
Respondents