Covid–19 and its implications on the mental health of selected Nigerian employees during the 2020 national lockdown

Abiodun Adekunle Ogunola; Moyosore Omodenuola Olupona

doi:10.21831/jss.v19i2.59304

Covid–19 and its implications on the mental health of selected Nigerian employees during the 2020 national lockdown

Abiodun Adekunle Ogunola, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria
Moyosore Omodenuola Olupona, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria

10.21831/jss.v19i2.59304

Abstract

The mental health of Nigerian employees in an organization is as important as their physical health at it allows them to focus on their jobs and aims at effective productivity in their organizations without any restrictions or restrains. A qualitative study approach was utilized through the use of structured interviews to explore the implications of Covid-19 on the mental health of those who worked from home and those who worked physically at their workplace. The study made use of 50 selected workers who worked at home and physically at work during the 2020 national lockdown in Nigeria. The study engaged the use of thematic analysis which led to the discussion of themes such as changes in work schedules, effects on mental capacity, exposure, adaptation, changes, and attitudes towards the lockdown. The study identified that there was a change in the mental health of Nigerian employees because they went through experiences that brought diverse perspectives to the way they view themselves and their work. It is recommended that people are equipped with psychological coping mechanisms to deal with unexpected situations and appreciate the significance of relationships with family, friends, colleagues at work, and speak up if they face any mental challenges.

Keywords

mental health, covid-19, challenges, employees, lockdown, productivity

Full Text:

PDF

References

Brunier, A., & Drysdale, C. (2020). COVID-19 disrupting mental health services in most countries, WHO survey. World Health Organization (WHO).

Cherry J., Demmler-Harrison G.J., Kaplan S.L., Steinbach W.J, Hotez P.J., (2017). Feigin and Cherry's textbook of pediatric infectious diseases. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Cheung, P.-K.., Wu, J., Chui, W.-H. (2022). Mental Health during the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Hong Kong Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 19, 8957. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19158957

Cullen, W., Gulati, G., & Kelly, B. D. (2020). Mental health in the COVID-19 pandemic. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 113(5), 311-312.

Earnshaw, V.A., Eaton, L. A., Kalichman, S. C., Brousseau, N. M., Hill, E. C., & Fox, A. B. (2020). COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs, health behaviours, and policy support. Translational behavioural medicine, 10(4), 850-856.

Harper, C. A., Satchell, L. P., Fido, D., & Latzman, R. D. (2021). Functional fear predicts public health compliance in the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 19(5), 1875-1888. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00281-5

Joseph, L.M. (2022). Impact of COVID-19 on mental health and emotional well-being of older adults. World Journal of Virology. 11(3): 129-136 doi: 10.5501/wjv.v11.i3.129

Pfefferbaum, B., & North, C.S. (2020). Mental health and the Covid-19 pandemic. New England Journal of Medicine, 383(6), 510-512.

Ogueji, I. A., Agberotimi, S. F., Adesanya, B. J., & Gidado, T. N. (2021). Mental health and coping strategies during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A qualitative study of unemployed and employed people in Nigeria. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy. 21:941–959. https://doi.org/10.1111/asap.12259

Ogunwale, A., Majekodunmi, O. E., Ajayi, S. O., & Abdulmalik, J. (2020). Forensic mental health service implications of COVID-19 infection in Nigeria. Forensic Science International: Mind and Law, 1, 100026.

Olibamoyo, O., Ola, B., Adewuya, A., Coker, O., Akintatyo, O., & Akintayo, O., (2021). Emerging Public Mental Health Crisis Due to Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) Pandemic and Lockdown in Nigeria. The Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences, 58(2): 19-32

Talevi, D., Socci, V., Carai, M., Carnaghi, G., Faleri, S., Trebbi, E., & Pacitti, F. (2020). Mental health outcomes of the CoViD-19 pandemic. Rivista di Psichiatria, 55(3), 137-144.

Usher K., Bhullar N., Jackson D. (2020). Life in the pandemic: Social isolation and mental health. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 29, 15–16. 10.1111/jocn.15290

Wang, C., Horby, P. W., Hayden, F. G., & Gao, G. F. (2020). A novel coronavirus outbreak of global health concern. The Lancet, 395(10223), 470-473.

Webster, P. (2020). Virtual health care in the era of COVID-19. The Lancet, 395(10231), 1180-1181.

World Health Organization. (2020). Apart Together survey: preliminary overview of refugees and migrants self-reported impact of Covid-19. World Health Organization (WHO).

Wise, T., Zbozinek, T. D., Michelini, G., Hagan, C.C., & Mobbs, D. (2020). Changes in risk perception and self-reported protective behaviour during the first week of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Royal Society Open Science, 7(9), 200742.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21831/jss.v19i2.59304