sreeja das - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by sreeja das

Research paper thumbnail of Behavioral Immune System, Psychological Immune System, and General Psychophysical Health during COVID-19 Pandemic

Mind and Society

With innate biological immunity proving inept and an acute lack of effective SARS-CoV-2 medicatio... more With innate biological immunity proving inept and an acute lack of effective SARS-CoV-2 medication/immunization, strict restrictive, preventive, and protective measures were introduced worldwide. Despite flattening the pandemic-growth curve, these were met with resistance and heightened psychopathology among the masses. Acknowledging individuals’ distinct adaptations towards supporting and protecting their health before/when any disease-state emerges in their body or the population surrounding them holds implications for population health and the public health programs. Humans have evolved a concomitant behavioral immune system (BIS), a coordinated suite of psychological mechanisms (affective-cognitive-behavioral) that motivate prophylactic avoidance of infectious-disease vectors. They also possess Psychological Immune System (PIS) comprising personal resilience resources and adaptive capacities that can promote psychological health-protective behaviors. The present phenomenological...

Research paper thumbnail of Attainment of Moksha in Kashi: A Qualitative Investigation

Mind and Society

Death-related beliefs and actions have changed over the course of human history. This study is a ... more Death-related beliefs and actions have changed over the course of human history. This study is a thematic examination of people who travel to Kashi, the Hindu sacred city, to die at the end of their lives. Pilgrims who arrive in Kashi to die anticipate a specific spiritual recompense called moksha, which is variously interpreted as freedom from rebirth or a good rebirth. This dissertation sought to highlight the sociohistorical epoch defined by a profusion of scholarly literary works on death and dying, as well as a surge in social movements trying to improve the way people die. To acquire a thorough knowledge of the motivations for attaining Moksha, particularly in Kashi, the study utilised a qualitative methodology. Thematic analysis has been used to dive into the perceptions of the participants and present a comprehensive description of their motivation. A semi-structured interview guide based on Indian and western literature reports was employed to obtain data. After interviewin...

Research paper thumbnail of The silver lining behind the dark cloud: Exploring the psycho-social factors impacting successful adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology

While most studies have been reporting the psychological issues being faced by the public due to ... more 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 situat...

Research paper thumbnail of Death and Mourning Process in Frontline Health Care Professionals and Their Families During COVID-19

Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2021

The COVID-19 epidemic has mushroomed globally, disrupting the existence of millions. Under this c... more The COVID-19 epidemic has mushroomed globally, disrupting the existence of millions. Under this current pandemic situation, the frontline health care professionals are looped in the clutch of the virus and are relatively more exposed to the patients infected with the disease. In this precarious situation, the frontline health care professionals have contributed their best to provide utmost care to the patients infected with the ailment. The direct involvement of these professionals, however, has taken a toll on their physical health as well as on their mental well-being. Several studies conducted recently have reported that frontline health care workers engaged in direct diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with COVID-19 are associated with a higher risk of symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues. Lack of personal protection equipment, unreasonable amounts of work, improper medicines, fear of contracting the disease, and lack of sk...

Research paper thumbnail of Cyberchondria Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges and Management Strategies

Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2021

The corona-virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), first found in Wuhan, China in December 2019, has posed... more The corona-virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), first found in Wuhan, China in December 2019, has posed an inexplicable threat to the global community. After its inception, the virus proliferated rapidly, which led to the cause of millions of deaths, and having a detrimental effect on physical health, social lives, economic uncertainty, and mental health of people. The World Health Organization has reported that there are 111 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 2.45 million deaths due to COVID-19 worldwide. Indisputably, the present pandemic has contributed to the extensive psychological and environmental distress together with clinical depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), domestic violence, and unemployment. Due to the ambiguous nature of the pandemic, educational organizations, and outdoor activities are closed, thus burdening the mental health of younger populations. Children as well as youths are more glued to the Internet for their studies, online gaming...

Research paper thumbnail of Behavioral Immune System, Psychological Immune System, and General Psychophysical Health during COVID-19 Pandemic

Mind and Society

With innate biological immunity proving inept and an acute lack of effective SARS-CoV-2 medicatio... more With innate biological immunity proving inept and an acute lack of effective SARS-CoV-2 medication/immunization, strict restrictive, preventive, and protective measures were introduced worldwide. Despite flattening the pandemic-growth curve, these were met with resistance and heightened psychopathology among the masses. Acknowledging individuals’ distinct adaptations towards supporting and protecting their health before/when any disease-state emerges in their body or the population surrounding them holds implications for population health and the public health programs. Humans have evolved a concomitant behavioral immune system (BIS), a coordinated suite of psychological mechanisms (affective-cognitive-behavioral) that motivate prophylactic avoidance of infectious-disease vectors. They also possess Psychological Immune System (PIS) comprising personal resilience resources and adaptive capacities that can promote psychological health-protective behaviors. The present phenomenological...

Research paper thumbnail of Attainment of Moksha in Kashi: A Qualitative Investigation

Mind and Society

Death-related beliefs and actions have changed over the course of human history. This study is a ... more Death-related beliefs and actions have changed over the course of human history. This study is a thematic examination of people who travel to Kashi, the Hindu sacred city, to die at the end of their lives. Pilgrims who arrive in Kashi to die anticipate a specific spiritual recompense called moksha, which is variously interpreted as freedom from rebirth or a good rebirth. This dissertation sought to highlight the sociohistorical epoch defined by a profusion of scholarly literary works on death and dying, as well as a surge in social movements trying to improve the way people die. To acquire a thorough knowledge of the motivations for attaining Moksha, particularly in Kashi, the study utilised a qualitative methodology. Thematic analysis has been used to dive into the perceptions of the participants and present a comprehensive description of their motivation. A semi-structured interview guide based on Indian and western literature reports was employed to obtain data. After interviewin...

Research paper thumbnail of The silver lining behind the dark cloud: Exploring the psycho-social factors impacting successful adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology

While most studies have been reporting the psychological issues being faced by the public due to ... more 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 situat...

Research paper thumbnail of Death and Mourning Process in Frontline Health Care Professionals and Their Families During COVID-19

Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2021

The COVID-19 epidemic has mushroomed globally, disrupting the existence of millions. Under this c... more The COVID-19 epidemic has mushroomed globally, disrupting the existence of millions. Under this current pandemic situation, the frontline health care professionals are looped in the clutch of the virus and are relatively more exposed to the patients infected with the disease. In this precarious situation, the frontline health care professionals have contributed their best to provide utmost care to the patients infected with the ailment. The direct involvement of these professionals, however, has taken a toll on their physical health as well as on their mental well-being. Several studies conducted recently have reported that frontline health care workers engaged in direct diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with COVID-19 are associated with a higher risk of symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues. Lack of personal protection equipment, unreasonable amounts of work, improper medicines, fear of contracting the disease, and lack of sk...

Research paper thumbnail of Cyberchondria Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges and Management Strategies

Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2021

The corona-virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), first found in Wuhan, China in December 2019, has posed... more The corona-virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), first found in Wuhan, China in December 2019, has posed an inexplicable threat to the global community. After its inception, the virus proliferated rapidly, which led to the cause of millions of deaths, and having a detrimental effect on physical health, social lives, economic uncertainty, and mental health of people. The World Health Organization has reported that there are 111 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 2.45 million deaths due to COVID-19 worldwide. Indisputably, the present pandemic has contributed to the extensive psychological and environmental distress together with clinical depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), domestic violence, and unemployment. Due to the ambiguous nature of the pandemic, educational organizations, and outdoor activities are closed, thus burdening the mental health of younger populations. Children as well as youths are more glued to the Internet for their studies, online gaming...