THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF COVID-19 AND SOCIAL ISOLATION NORMS ON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DELHI NCR, INDIA

Adolescence is identified as a transition phase where individuals undergo dramatic changes in terms of their cognitive growth. During this time, the heightened awareness of personal and sexual identity leads to greater prioritization of social interaction and popularity. Self-esteem and confidence are measured on the basis of ones social value which can have both positive and negative impacts. In this paper, we study how individuals going through this complex phase of psychological development are dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. With schools and other educational institutes remaining shut down and social distancing norms established, they are undergoing a phenomenon that has not been experienced by previous generations. Studies on isolation often show psychological outcomes such as low mood, poor sleep quality, impaired immunity and cognitive decline, among other symptoms. In this regard, this paper aims to identify the effect of COVID-19 on high school students of Delhi NCR in India, determining their psychological state and analyzing its impact on academic and interpersonal goals. There is also an attempt to predict repercussions of the same in the foreseeable future. Results are based on a questionnaire that will be distributed among high school students, and the discussion and analysis will be drawn based on an interpretation of the same.