Families in Oman learn the importance of saving during pandemic, reveals SQU research

Muscat: COVID-19 pandemic helped 45 per cent families save better, and 81 per cent said that online study is difficult for parents and children, according to the results of a study conducted by researchers from Sultan Qaboos University SQU on the impact of the Corona pandemic on Omani families

The research sample consisted of 120 Omani families that were randomly selected, where the study covered the social, economic, cultural, health and psychological aspects.

Regarding social impacts the study results revealed that 78 per cent of participants confirmed that they adhered to the instructions of the Supreme Committee in applying the principle of staying at home and not shaking hands or social visits, 86 per cent said using social platforms to contact their families and relatives were very useful, as 79 per cent of the total sample indicated that the application of the principle of staying at home positively affected social relations within the same family, and 72 per cent confirmed that the crisis helps them to create many new methods to regulate leisure time, and establish positive controls in the appropriate socialisation of children.

On the educational side: 82 per cent of the research sample indicated that they are concerned that the distance education process does not meet the educational process for their children, and 81 per cent of the research sample indicated that the distance learning process is considered difficult for parents and children, as 70 per cent from the participants said that their children do not prefer distance education.

As for the economic impacts; 45 per cent of the research sample indicated that they were able to save well during the closure period, and 60 per cent indicated that their families have become heavily dependent on electronic commerce, and 76 per cent of the total sample confirmed that there is a big trend for home business as an additional source of income even after the pandemic.

With regard to the cultural, health and psychological dimension; 85 per cent of the research sample indicated that they and their family members got acquainted with methods for preventing infection with various viruses, methods of sterilising the home and personal hygiene, and 83 per cent of the respondents confirmed that they rely on reliable sources to follow health guidelines, as  73 per cent of the study participants said that they fully trust the decisions of the Supreme Committee in charge of combating the Corona pandemic. 72 per cent people of the total sample said they were worried about going to health institutions for fear of being infected with COVID-19.

The study was conducted by students of the Department of Sociology and Social Work within the course of the graduation project, the team consisted of students Hamdan Al Zaidi, Ahmed Al Maamari, Humayel Al Junaibi, Fatima Bahjaj, Muhammad Al-Jabri, Abdullah Al Abri and under the supervision of Dr. Wafa bint Said Al Maamari, an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Work.