ИНСТИТУЦИОНАЛНО НЕДОВЕРИЕ И ЛИПСА НА ЛИЧНО ДЕЯТЕЛСТВО КАТО ФАКТОРИ, ПРЕДОПРЕДЕЛЯЩИ ВЪЗНИКВАНЕТО НА ПСИХИЧНИ ПРОБЛЕМИ В УСЛОВИЯТА НА ПАНДЕМИЯТА ОТ КОРОНАВИРУС
INSTITUTIONAL DISTRUST AND LACK OF PERSONAL ACTION AS FACTORS PREDETERMINING THE EMERGENCE OF MENTAL PROBLEMS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Author(s): Elitsa Hristova, Irina Yaneva-Damianova, Andrei Simeonov
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Sociology, Applied Sociology, Health and medicine and law
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: mistrust; institutions; personal action; pandemic
Summary/Abstract: The aim of the present study is to investigate the influence of distrust in governmental institutions and of limited (or blocked) ability for personal agency and control in everyday-life activities during the COVID-19 pandemic as factors that determine the advent of psychic problems such as depression, anxiety and stress. 471 participants filled surveys and questionnaires that measured the two independent and three dependent variables. Results showed a statistically significant link between the distrust in governmental institutions because of their enforced policies and social measures for managing the pandemic, and higher levels of anxiety and stress but not of depression. The limited (or blocked) ability for personal agency and control in everyday-life activities has a statistically significant association with higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Several limitations of the present study and directions for future investigations on the subject are discussed, together with possible strategies for improving people’s psychic health and well-being under the conditions of the global pandemic.

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