TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Family has an important role in strengthening mental toughness of each member in the face of COVID-19 pandemic, according to Yuke Roosjati Siregar, Professor of Psychology at the University of Padjadjaran.

"Solid families can take care of each other and understand each other through healthy communication," she said in a press release from the Indonesian Psychological Association (Himpsi) of Jakarta branch on Sunday.

"(Families) can encourage each other and also seek ways and strategies to deal with this difficult time," she added.

Siregar said family plays an important role in building a generation that is smart, optimistic, skilled in social and technology, as well as adaptive and responsible.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Himpsi Jaya Dr. Widura Imam Mustopo, M.Si, explained pandemic that lasted more than a year had affected all aspects of people's lives. Not only individual and family life, the pandemic also disrupts social relations, education, work, and global conditions in general.

A research of Bagus Takwin, a psychologist at the University of Indonesia, conducted in 34 provinces and involved 5,817 respondents showed, most respondents have a fairly low level of pandemic endurance that brought serious impact to the social and psychological conditions.

Meanwhile, Yonathan Aditya Goei, M.K., Ph.D, the Dean of the Faculty of Psychology at Pelita Harapan University, assessed that strengthening religious values through religious education could be a solution to strengthen the mentality of each family member so that they are able to face the pandemic.

Mental toughness can also be strengthened by doing physical activities or exercising regularly.

This idea was emphasized by Afif Kurniawan M.Psi, a lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology at Airlangga University, who said that the body produces endorphins which can be a mood booster to fight stress and depression. Exercise can help people to relax and increase self-confidence in facing the pandemic.

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ANTARA