The Department of Psychology at the Institute for Population and Human Studies – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IPHS-BAS) implemented the second wave of research on stress responses and how to deal with it in conditions of spreading coronavirus infection in Bulgaria.
The survey was conducted between 25 April and 2 May 2020 among a random sample of 868 persons surveyed. An additional focus of interest in the second wave is social change and the impact of social exclusion.
The results show a slight decrease in the perceived risk of infection as well as a decrease in anxiety levels compared to the results of the previous study conducted in March. These results can be explained by the adaptation to the situation, the progressive information development of the explanation of measures and the more pronounced implementation of all strategies for coping with the stress experienced.
Compliance with safety measures for the sake of one’s own safety as well as for protecting others also diminishes over time. The critical votes against the measures of the state have influenced a slight decrease of their support.
The most negative conditions are being rediscovered in active women working full-time at home, people on paid leave due to the emergency situation and older people in cities.
In terms of the social situation, most people lack direct communication. At the same time, no expansion of social dating through new technologies is being reported. The effects of the economic situation continue to be more worrying for most respondents.
The study continues also with the support of the International Sociological Association in Sweden, Germany, Portugal, Italy and China.
You can see the results here.
