Pacuancuan, Katya Erdelene Faith S.
0543L
Psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak to filipinos
Statement of the Problem:
As the Philippines having a massive record of COVID-19 cases, filipinos in
general were alarmed by the news that they could not help but feel down and
troubled at the same time. There are some natural and common stressors in our
surroundings and COVID-19 outbreak joins the list of stressors of the filipinos which
affected much in their mental- emotional aspect as stated in inquirer.net[1].
Objective and significance of the study:
This study will further address the needs of attention toward the mental
health of the people affected by the COVID-19. It seeks to provide the
importance of maintaining a good mental and emotional condition amidst the
crisis and pandemic. The study aims to reach out to the people for self-awareness
and for them to be able to eliminate stressors caused by COVID-19, which will
help them live a healthy and positive living.
The significance of this study is to put emphasis on the importance of mental
health as a part of a well-being rather than physical health alone. For the children
and students, so that they are well- oriented about the current situation of the
world and to avoid pessimism, mostly because teenagers are prone to depression
and anxiety[2]. For the frontliners, to be more aware in their field of work, its risks
and hazards, and what should they do to cope up with a healthy living including
their mental health. For the economic leaders, to take action in this aspect of life,
that the welfare of the people doesn’t only revolve on the material things and
physical assurance, but also the need of mental- emotional support.
Hypothesis:
The COVID-19, became the talk of the town, even on its first day, without a
proper introduction to its risks and effects, people started to panicked[3].
Therefore, I hypothesized that the COVID-19 outbreak has a negative impact on
the filipinos’ psychological aspect, specifically in their behavior toward it and how
it changed their perceptions and actions.
Conceptual Framework:
The COVID-19 outbreak is the Independent Variable of the study. The
dependent variable is the psychological aspect of the filipinos, which includes
their emotional and mental well- being, and their behavior and actions. The
filipinos are the constant variable because this study is covered and conducted
in the Philippines.
Procedure:
In this study, the first thing that was done is stating the problem or the topic
to be studied on which is the Psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak to
filipinos. The background of that problem is also stated and with a literary
evidence.
Going on, pointing out the objective of the study was also present here
followed by the formulation of a hypothesis, and the hypothesis is that there is a
negative psychological impact of COVID-19 outbreak to filipinos which will later
on be tested and evidence-based research method will be used in the
experiment.
The next thing that was done is gathering of data from different sources of
information to further strengthen the hypothesis like news articles, existing
researches, or testimonials. Then organizing and analyzing the data gathered is
done, to see to it that they can be good evidences to defend or test the
hypothesis.
Some literatures found stated that the lack of assurance about what will
happen in the coming days has simply added to the anxiety of every filipino amid
the pandemic[4] (Uy, 2020). Some manifestations of the COVID-19’s impact on the
filipinos includes panic, worry, anxiety, and people are alarmed with the outbreak
thus results to disorientation, as stated in the research of Nicomedes and Avila
(2020)[5]. One concrete example of this is the hoarding of medical supplies like
tissue, and alcohol. Filipinos particularly manilenos were seen bulk buying in
supermarkets as stated in the news[6].
According to CNN Philippines[7], entire sectors have been affected leaving many
in state of uncertainty to their employment. Angelo, a researcher whose project
has been put on hold indefinitely. “We’re already contractual, and I heard rumors
that our contract won’t be renewed anymore because no work can be done
anyway. I’m lucky to be able to survive without work, pero paano na yung iba? I
can’t even work on anything at home because of the anxiety. It’s stressing me
out.” On the other hand, there are those who need to report to work or school
amid the global crisis. ‘Cat’, a medical student whose school opted to continue
their exam week despite the national crisis. “My classmates and I feel emotionally
and mentally overwhelmed by everything going on around us, on top of the usual
anxiety that comes with exam week. It’s hard not to constantly beat yourself up
for feeling helpless and unproductive in the phase of an unprecedented crisis.”
As we navigate the situation, ensuring our basic needs are met while practicing
health precautions, we are bombarded with live updates and developments on
the global pandemic. It’s only right to be ready and keep informed but there is a
clear undercurrent of stress and anxiety that isn’t being talked about as much as
it should be.
In an article from inquirer.net[8], it says that 84% of Pinoys are stressed by COVID-
19 pandemic. This survey is conducted from July 3 to 6, 2020. The 86% is varied into
three, 51% said they are in state of “great stress”, and 35% are “much stress”. 14%
that is not included in the 86% said they felt “little or less stress”. The Social Weather
Station who conducted the survey used mobile phone and computer-assisted
telephone interview of 1,555 Filipinos 18 years old and above nationwide. The
proportion of those who experienced “great stress” was higher among families
that had experienced involuntary hunger in the past three months at 62 percent
compared with families that did not experience hunger at 48 percent. Those with
“great stress” were at 55 percent among those who did not have a job but used
to have one and those who never had a job, higher than the 46 percent among
those who had jobs. “Great stress” was highest in Metro Manila and Visayas at 56
percent followed by Luzon outside Metro Manila at 49 percent and Mindanao at
46 percent. Those who experienced great stress were also highest among junior
high school graduates at 58 percent. The survey had a margin of error of plus-
minus 2 percent.
In the survey given, the respondents are limited, still the result shows that filipinos
are suffering stress due to COVID-19, how much more if all filipinos are given the
chance to speak out of their say about this problem. This study claims that the
COVID-19 outbreak has something to do to its dependent variable, the
psychological aspect and its constant, the filipinos. Therefore, thru the evidences
above, I then conclude that there is a negative impact of the COVID 19 outbreak
to the psychological aspect of filipinos.
References:
[1] https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1312001/84-of-pinoys-stressed-by-health-crisis
https://childmind.org/report/2017-childrens-mental-health-report/anxiety-
[2]
depression-adolescence/
[3] https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/hope-resilience/202004/filipino-
responses-covid-19
[4] Anna Rosario Malindog- Uy, COVID 19 Impact on Mental Health,
https://theaseanpost.com/article/covid-19-impact-mental-health-filipinos
[5] Nicomedes and Avila, An Analysis on the Panic of Filipinos During COVID-19
Pandemic in the Philippines,
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340081049_An_Analysis_on_the_Pani
c_of_Filipinos_During_COVID-19_Pandemic_in_the_Philippines
[6] https://www-interaksyon-
com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.interaksyon.com/rumor-
cop/2020/03/12/164036/panic-buying-metro-manila-covid-
19/amp/?amp_js_v=a2&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=159
84253169337&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fround-lake.dustinice.workers.dev%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%25
1%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fround-lake.dustinice.workers.dev%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fwww.interaksyon.com%2Frumor-
cop%2F2020%2F03%2F12%2F164036%2Fpanic-buying-metro-manila-covid-19%2F
[7] https://www.cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2020/3/26/mental-health-
pandemic.html
[8] https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1312001/84-of-pinoys-stressed-by-health-crisis
