Browsing by Author "Divya Bhanot"

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Impact of COVID-19 and Social Distancing Measures on Married Women: A Qualitative Enquiry
(Taylor and Francis, 2025) Shalini Mittal; Tushar Singh; Harleen Kaur; Rahul Varma; Sreeja Das; Yogesh Kumar Arya; Sunil K. Verma; Shivantika Sharad; Divya Bhanot; Udisha Merwal; Aishwarya Jaiswal; Benkat Krishna Bharti; Bhawna Tushir
Considering the World Health Organization’s declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, governments worldwide implemented lockdowns and social distancing measures to contain the spread. Despite these critical measures, the pandemic exacerbated gender inequality, particularly impacting women. With schools and workplaces closed and heightened concerns for family members’ health, women shouldered increased family responsibilities, leading to numerous physical and psychological health challenges. Married women, in particular, faced amplified burdens. This study aims to delve into the experiences of married women during the pandemic. Twenty married women within the age range of 22–45 years residing in the northern part of India were telephonically interviewed about their experiences during the COVID-19-induced lockdown. The interviews recordings were transcribed manually and analysed using thematic content analysis. The emerging themes -emotional and psychological impact, social impact, workload impact, and coping mechanisms -shed light on both the positive and negative outcomes of the pandemic. The results revealed that both working and non-working married women encountered emotional, psychological, and social challenges such as anxiety, social isolation, increased intimacy, and work–family conflict due to heightened domestic responsibilities resulting from the confinement of each family member at home. However, women reported that habituation and forced adjustments became their primary coping mechanisms. © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Shalini Mittal, Tushar Singh, Harleen Kaur, Rahul Varma, Sreeja Das, Yogesh Kumar Arya, Sunil K. Verma, Shivantika Sharad, Divya Bhanot, Udisha Merwal, Aishwarya Jaiswal, Benkat Krishna Bharti, and Bhawna Tushir.
Stigma and Discrimination During COVID-19 Pandemic
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2021) Divya Bhanot; Tushar Singh; Sunil K. Verma; Shivantika Sharad
The COVID-19 pandemic has been instrumental in creating a dramatic shift from people's need to live in mutual association toward a desire to stigmatize distinctive others. Pandemic seems to be causing othering. Stated simply, stigmatization is a social process set to exclude those who are perceived to be a potential source of disease and may pose threat to the effective social living in the society. Based on the secondary evidence collected from news published online or in print, the present article delves into stigma associated with the COVID-19 pandemic among different social groups in the Indian society and the mounting cases of prejudice based on race, class, and religion. It also presents insights into the varied manifestations, and the deleterious consequences of COVID-19 inspired othering brought to its potential targets in India. © Copyright © 2021 Bhanot, Singh, Verma and Sharad.
The silver lining behind the dark cloud: Exploring the psycho-social factors impacting successful adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic
(SAGE Publications Ltd, 2022) Tushar Singh; Shalini Mittal; Shivantika Sharad; Divya Bhanot; Sreeja Das; Rahul Varma; Harleen Kaur; Udisha Merwal; Yogesh K Arya; Sunil K Verma; Aishwarya Jaiswal; Benkat Krishna Bharti
While most studies have been reporting the psychological issues being faced by the public due to the global spread of coronavirus and sudden restrictions and changes accompanying it, the present study attempted to explore dynamic human experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant lockdown, so as to understand the psycho-social factors that acted as adaptive resources or as buffers to maintain a stable mental state amidst this crisis. In-depth telephonic interviews with 30 participants were conducted to explore their experiences in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown. Thematic analysis performed to identify the positive and protective factors that helped people adapt in a healthy way revealed that although the initial response of the participants to the pandemic was “optimistic bias” followed by downplaying the seriousness of the issue, later they demonstrated increased realization and acceptance to the seriousness of the situation. Upon realizing the situation, their positive psychological resources acted as a buffer against the ill effects of the pandemic, and they used both cognitive and behavioral coping. The study clearly demonstrates that crisis in life is not just a source of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty but also an opportunity to test one’s psychological resources to learn and grow. © The Author(s) 2022.
The social psychology of COVID-19 stigma
(Taylor and Francis, 2024) Divya Bhanot; Sunil K. Verma; Shivantika Sharad; Benkat Krishna Bharti; Tushar Singh; Shalini Mittal; Bhawna Tushir
The spread of infectious diseases and the associated stigmatisation of people is an evidenced history. The present chapter is an attempt to explain the stigma of race, class and religion in India with the help of the established intergroup theories of social psychology to highlight the psychosocial consequences resulting out of an outbreak of infectious diseases, i.e., COVID-19. In order to present the implicational value of intergroup theories in explaining the practices of COVID-19-generated stigmatisation of people in India on the basis of their belongingness to particular race, class and religion, a systemic review of the COVID-19-generated stigmatisation of people and groups was carried out. Anecdotal presentations of stigmatised treatments against the several social groups in India are explained from the vantage of intergroup theoretical approaches of social psychology. In our review, intergroup theories of social psychology were found instrumental in explaining COVID-19-generated stigmatised treatments directed against people based on race, class and religion. Intergroup Emotions Theory could explain the stigmatisation of Northeast Indians. Scapegoat theory was found instrumental in explaining the stigmatisation of poor and migrants. Stigmatisation against Muslims could be justifiably explained in the light of social identity theory. At last, the chapter attempts to make certain recommendations aimed to reduce or combat negative psychosocial responses to infectious diseases like COVID-19. © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Asma Parveen and Rajesh Verma; individual chapters, the contributors.