Infodemic of the COVID-19 Pandemic and its impact on irritability

Abstract

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was followed by the continuous transmission of information via media channels. Here the “infodemic” brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic was examined, and its impact on people’s levels of irritability was quantified. It was hypothesized that the type of media consumed by individuals would cause a significant difference in the levels of irritability and that consuming more news would result in higher irritability levels. It was also hypothesized that there would be a considerable variation in irritability between males and females based on news intake. 307 participants, both male, and female, with ages ranging from 16 to 62 were surveyed for data. The participants’ usage of T.V., internet, and newspapers was assessed using the National Stock Exchange Media Consumption Behaviour Test. The Brief Irritability Test was used to determine the levels of irritability in individuals. Mean and Standard Deviation were calculated and one-way ANOVA was used to analyse the scores. The results concluded that. T.V. consumers who spent more hours consuming news experienced higher levels of irritability. Females were more irritable than males while consuming news through all three media.