Data_Sheet_1_Technology as a Double-Edged Sword: Understanding Life Experiences and Coping With COVID-19 in India.pdf

The two waves of COVID-19 in India have had severe consequences for the lives of people. The Indian State-imposed various regulatory mechanisms like lockdowns, encouraged remote work, online teaching in academic institutions, and enforced adherence to the COVID protocols. The use of various technologies especially digital/online technologies not only helped to adapt to the “new normal” and cope with the disruptions in pursuing everyday activities but also to manage one’s well-being. However, the availability and accessibility of digital technologies to various sections of the population were not uniform. This paper reports a series of three studies examining the nature of pandemic stress, the impact of technology use on people’s emotional well-being during turbulent times, and the effects of technology use on psychological resources like resilience, self-efficacy, motivation to work, and emotional well-being. The differences in the residential background (Urban/Rural) and SES (Low/High) in the extent of the use of technology and strength of psychological resources were assessed. The findings indicated that the most common causes of concern included worrying about family, friends, partners, fears of getting and giving the viral infection to someone; frustration and or boredom; and changes in normal sleep patterns. It was noted that technology was a double-edged sword and created barriers as well as opportunities for the people. Also, self-efficacy mediated the relationship between the use of technology and emotional wellbeing. The results have policy implications for building resilient communities in the post COVID period.

印度经历的两波新冠疫情（COVID-19）对民众生活造成了严重冲击。印度政府出台了包括封控在内的多项监管举措，鼓励远程办公、推动学术机构开展线上教学，并强制要求民众遵守新冠防疫规程（COVID protocols）。各类技术尤其是数字/线上技术（digital/online technologies）的应用，不仅助力民众适应“新常态”，应对日常活动受干扰带来的种种困境，还能帮助人们管理自身健康状况。

但不同群体获取和使用数字技术的条件并不均衡。本研究通过三项系列调查，剖析了疫情压力的特征、技术应用在疫情动荡时期对民众情绪健康（emotional well-being）的影响，以及技术使用对韧性（resilience）、自我效能感（self-efficacy）、工作动机等心理资源与情绪健康的作用。研究还评估了不同居住背景（城市/农村）及社会经济地位（SES，低/高）群体在技术使用程度与心理资源水平上的差异。

研究结果显示，民众最普遍的焦虑诱因包括：对家人、朋友、伴侣的担忧，担心自身感染病毒或将病毒传染给他人，受挫感与无聊感，以及常规睡眠模式的改变。研究发现，技术实为一把双刃剑，既为民众提供了便利机遇，也带来了使用障碍。此外，自我效能感在技术使用与情绪健康之间发挥了中介作用。本研究结果可为后疫情时代韧性社区的建设提供政策借鉴。