Abstract
The COVID-19 lockdown changed people’s lives suddenly and completely, forcing them to stay indoors and adjust to a new way of living. This study unfolds interesting facts about psychosocial engagement in medical crisis by exploring their leisure activity choices and the psychosocial factors influencing them—specifically, perceived stress, social support, and meaning in life. Research was conducted during the first phase of lockdown covering a total of 304 people across India, highlighted people’s experiences within home restriction on the leisure activities and their relationship with other psychosocial domains through an online web-based survey. Common leisure activities included social media use (62.2%), cleaning the house (52.3%), communicating with friends and family (55.3%), and learning new skills (54.6%). Factor analysis identified three categories of leisure engagement: fun and social activities, learning and skill development, and self-care. Regression results indicated that perceived stress and social support significantly predicted engagement in fun and social activities, while sense of meaning in life was a significant predictor of both self-care and skill development. The study highlights the role of leisure as a coping mechanism during collective crises, illustrating how individuals recalibrate their behaviors in response to psychological needs and social contexts. The study helps to understand the dynamic nature of psychosocial engagement with respect to the gravity of stress, perceived social support, and meaning in life, facilitating navigation through rough phases of the collective natural adversity within defined safe spaces like home.
Keywords: COVID-19 Lockdown, Daily Activities, Leisure, Stress, Meaning In Life, Social Support.