Modification of Human Behavior due to Coronavirus Outbreak: A Brief Study on Current Scenario

Abstract

Purpose: The objectives of present study were to evaluate the properties of a behavior modification of people
in India associated with coronavirus outbreak. The behavior modification is measure of coronavirus related
psychopathology, which was validated through a large sample study on adults who reported significant change
in behavior due to watching and reading about coronavirus pandemic. Methods: Door to door and online survey
conducted in Morena and Gwalior District, Madhya Pradesh, India, for collection of data of 1050 adults’.
The partakers were contacted individually, through online and complete information were taken out through a
questionnaire of different parameters. Because the study focused on the effect of thinking and/or watching about
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on physical activity of body, behavior, mental stress, anxiety, faith in
God, and appetite. Results: A total of 16 symptoms of behavior modification due to coronavirus outbreak were
statistically defined through a principal component analysis with Varimax rotation. The results were confirmed by
a two-component structure and the total variance explained 55.23% for first component accounting. The six prime
loadings on the first component were selected for the behavior changes because these loadings well exceeded
the criteria for psychometrically prime items. Especially, communalities extraction coefficients (CEC) ranged
from 0.717 to 0.853, coefficients of structure/pattern ranged from 0.71 to 0.90, and cross-loadings ranged from
0.17 to 0.22. These symptoms were used for the determination of different parameters such as decreased physical
activity, psychological disturbances, mental stress, anxiety, faith in God, and appetite before arising COVID-19
infection and were highly reliable (α = 0.83) as a cluster. Conclusion: For the coronavirus outbreak, models will
be required for control the negative behavior modification of peoples so that they can use their skill for positive
outcomes. The clear cut updated policy of should be implemented to reduce these types of modifications. The
prime symptoms of behavior modification were validated and stabilized through statistical tools such as CEC,
coefficients of structure/pattern, and analysis of variance. Hence, we can say that if opinions of some experts
are correct, then world’s most of population need special care to avoid behavior modification due to coronavirus
outbreak.