Mental Resilience and Herd Immunity among Covid-19 Survivors: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Mental resilience is the eminent process substantial in Covid-19 survival besides the herd immunity inference in community. The purpose for choosing current study was to explore the survivor’s viewpoint on diverse aspects of the variables: mental resilience and herd immunity in covid-19 survival. The sample of participants selected (N=12), gender male (n=6) and female (n=6) through purposive sampling from Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The qualitative research design was opted for conducting the study. The Symptom checklist-90 (SCL-90) Urdu version was utilized for psychological screening and interview guideline was used for conducting in-depth interviews. The quantitative analysis of SCL- 90 was done by using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) 26.0. The qualitative data analysis was made by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) by Smith et al. (2009). The interview guideline cater the domains: mental resilience definition, role in covid-19 survival, dynamics fostering mental resilience along with understanding of herd immunity and role in covid-19 survival. The results showed that the survivors defined mental resilience as coping mechanism; will power; cognitive constituent of survival; adaptation/ adjustment; outcome of stress and fuel for optimal functioning. The results revealed that the role of mental resilience in surviving covid-19 is crucial. Moreover, results depicted that for covid-19 survivors the fostering dynamics of mental resilience involve: personality dynamics, gratitude, support & belongingness, coping strategies, age, hope, sleep and diet. The results also conversed herd immunity as communal phenomenon based on: Immunity and Versatility. Correspondingly, the role is reported as: uncertain, time-taking process and certain areas need to be improved. The study will contribute globally in designing community survival guidelines, will caught eye of policy makers to put sincere efforts for operative polices regarding ongoing pandemic and for therapeutic professionals to progress in making such intervention plans which contribute in enhancing potential to compete and overcome life uncertainties of people of different communities