engleski

Psychological effects of the pandemic on the island affected by SARS Cov-2

Introduction or Background Pandemics, including COVID-19, have been linked to an increased risk of developing mental disorders and poor mental health. Rationale, purpose of the study and research question The aim of the research was to examine the differences in perceived stressors, perceived social support, and negative affectivity (depression, anxiety, and stress) between residents of Brač who were directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and residents of other islands not directly exposed to the pandemic. Subjects and Method A total of 613 inhabitants of the Croatian islands (73.3% residents of Brač and 26.7% residents of other islands) of both genders aged from 21 to 75 years were included in the analysis. A web-based survey was used to collect data. All participants answered the questionnaires about perceived stressors, social support and psychological symptoms during May 2020 while the peak of the epidemic on Brač was evident. Results Results showed that the residents of the island Brač reported significantly higher scores on items indicating concerns about the possible duration of social isolation, frustration for being isolated from other people, inability to move freely outside the home, and boredom compared to the residents of other islands who have not been directly affected by the pandemic. In addition, the residents of Brač experienced concerns about financial consequences of the pandemic, fear of infection, uncertainty due to duration of isolation together with prohibition on going out and isolation from others as the strongest pandemic-related stressors during the pandemic. Considering perceived support, the residents of Brač, during the pandemic, have received the most support from family members (parents and partners) and friends, as well as through online sources and social networks. They received significantly more support from religious communities and less support from the physicians compared to the residents from other islands. Finally, during the peak of the pandemic, the residents of Brač also scored significantly higher on the depression and stress in comparison with the other islands residents. Although the differences on the anxiety scale did not reach statistical significance, it was evident from the average values that the inhabitants of Brač also achieved higher results than the inhabitants of other islands. 29 Discussion and Conclusion Despite the short duration, the psychological effects of a pandemic are more visible in residents of an island affected by a pandemic compared to residents of other islands who have not been exposed to infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

SARS – COV 2 pandemic, psychological reactions, isolation, health consequences

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