Mental Well-Being of Information Technology Professionals Working in India
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Date
2021-06
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Desousa Foundation
Abstract
Background: Technology industry has seen significant growth in India, spurring an economic boom and significant cultural changes. These cultural and economic shifts may in part be responsible for increased job demands and social pressures for IT workers. Thus, there is a need to understand the mental well-being of individuals within the Indian technology sector. Understanding the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression can aid in raising awareness and providing targeted interventions. Methodology: In this study, Indian IT professionals (N = 896) recruited from email lists, direct distributions, and other sources completed an online survey that included depression (Patient Health Questionnaire - 9), stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7), and interpersonal difficulties screeners. Results: One quarter of participants reported moderate to severe stress, anxiety, depression and interpersonal difficulties. No gender or age differences was found in prevalence of depression or anxiety. Living in cities was associated with higher anxiety than living in small towns (27.1% vs. 17.0%; p=0.001); conversely, living in smaller towns was associated with higher interpersonal difficulties compared to large cities (33.8% vs. 7.8%; p<0.001). IT population appear to be at a higher risk of mental health challenges than the reported averages within India. Conclusion: The results suggest a need to build awareness of these issues within this population and to work to ameliorate them through interventions appropriate for this population.
Description
Keywords
Depression, Anxiety, Stress, India, Information Technology
Citation
Bharat Vidya, Bunge Eduardo L., Barrera Alinne Z., Leykin Yan. Mental Well-Being of Information Technology Professionals Working in India. Indian Journal of Mental Health. 2021 Jun; 8(2): 140-147