Psyhcological impact of the pandemic: A thematic analyses on emotional experiences in Ecuador

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The present qualitative research aims to establish some background for understanding the affective experience of people regarding the new coronavirus pandemic through an analysis of their speech aimed to explaining their self-perception about the impact that the health crisis has had on their lives. emotions and behaviors. OBJECTIVE: To describe the categories of emotional affectation by the pandemic referred by the participants according to the experience reflected in their speech. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were applied to 102 people residing mostly in Quito and Pichincha from September 2020 to January 2021 and a thematic analysis of the participants' discourse was carried out. RESULTS: Three main categories were identified on the self-perception of the emotional impact of the pandemic: sadness, frustration and uncertainty, each with particular characteristics regarding the style of coping with the difficulties caused by the pandemic and the protection measures taken after it, which explain the experience of the current crisis from personal experience focused mainly on the aforementioned issues. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The emotional experiences related to the impact caused by the pandemic and its effects revolve around anxious and depressive responses generated by the combination of factors such as the direct threat of the virus, social restrictions as prevention measures, the dissemination of information alarming, the economic crisis, and sudden substantial changes in people's lifestyles.