THE COVID-19 CRISIS: SPECIFICITY OF EXPERIENCES AMONG PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES
THE COVID-19 CRISIS: SPECIFICITY OF EXPERIENCES AMONG PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES

Author(s): Tsvetelina Panchelieva, Diana Bakalova, Ilina Nacheva, Valentina Dolmova
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Sociology, Health and medicine and law
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: stress; social support; COVID-19; chronic illness
Summary/Abstract: The current study focuses on chronically ill people as one of the vulnerable groups in the society. The aim is to outline specifics in their perceptions, reactions and attitudes in the context of the crisis caused by COVID-19. An online survey among 610 participants (chronic suffers N=301) was employed. Inventories were used to measure anxiety, resilience, coping strategies, expectations, perceived stress and social support. Results indicate that chronically ill people were significantly more pessimistic, they perceive less social support and use specific ways to cope with stress. The findings have important implications for both theory and social policy.

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