Coping with Covid-19 Lockdown: Optimism and Intolerance of Uncertainty in India

Background: Kerala contained Covid-19 effectively in a low-resource setting, offering valuable insights for mental health research in epidemics, particularly for resource-poor countries. Aims: This study examined optimism, intolerance of uncertainty (TU), and socio-demographics in Kerala, India during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: Observational study where 121 adults were surveyed online via snowball sampling. Standard tools and custom questionnaire were used. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. Results: Strong relationship between inhibitory anxiety and optimism was found. Socio- demographics did not determine IU or optimism. Uncertainty during crises requires further investigation. Conclusions: The Pandemic's impact on well-being demands further research on anxiety and potential protective factors for better community-based disaster preparedness policies