The Impact of COVID-19 on Psychosocial Health: A Qualitative Study in Rural Areas of Bangladesh

Abstract

The outbreak of COVID-19 brought not only an unprecedented global health crisis but also widespread psychosocial disruptions, particularly in vulnerable and resource-limited settings. While much of the existing literature has focused on urban or clinical populations, the psychosocial effects of the pandemic in rural communities remain significantly underexplored. This study investigates the multifaceted impact of COVID-19 on psychosocial health in a rural Bangladeshi context, emphasizing local narratives, lived experiences, and culturally embedded coping strategies. The research employed a qualitative methodology to capture the complexity of individual and communal responses. Data were collected through 15 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and 5 detailed case studies conducted in Gojaharpur village of the Mymensingh district. Participants included men, women, students, and healthcare providers, selected using stratified random sampling to ensure diversity across age, gender, and occupational categories. The study utilized thematic analysis to identify patterns and interpret psychosocial responses through the lenses of the Biopsychosocial Model, Interpretivist and Ethnomedical Approaches, and the Health Belief Model. Findings revealed a range of psychosocial impacts, including heightened anxiety, emotional fatigue, depression, sleep disturbances, and social isolation. These were deeply influenced by contextual factors such as poverty, gender roles, disrupted education, unemployment, and stigmatization. Women in particular experienced intensified emotional and caregiving burdens, while students reported loss of academic motivation and increased risk of dropout or early marriage due to prolonged school closures. Healthcare workers faced mental exhaustion from inadequate protective measures and public fear. Economic anxiety was a recurring theme, with small business owners and informal workers suffering significant financial losses, exacerbating psychological distress. In coping with these challenges, individuals turned to both practical and culturally meaningful strategies—spiritual practices, familial support, and traditional home remedies. At the same time, social stigma associated with COVID-19 led to community-level breakdowns in trust and emotional support. These complex realities reflect the limitations of one-size-fits-all health policies and underscore the importance of localized, culturally informed interventions. The study highlights the urgent need for rural mental health infrastructure, community-based psychosocial support, and public health messaging that considers cultural beliefs and social inequalities. The insights from this research provide a valuable contribution to the broader discourse on pandemic resilience and offer actionable recommendations for developing inclusive and context-sensitive mental health strategies in low-resource settings.