As much as 80.4 percent of Slovaks are concerned about the current state of the national economy, which has been affected by the outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic, according to the first results of an international survey in which the Psychology Department of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University (UPJS) in Kosice took part. Its aim is to map out all the factors that can influence the human psyche and decision-making during the pandemic.
The first phase of the data collection in Slovakia was carried out before Easter. The survey was conducted on 446 Slovaks, of which 80 percent were women and 20 percent men. The results showed that the measures that have been implemented in Slovakia are considered appropriate by 36.3 percent of the respondents, while 15.1 percent called them mild and 48.6 percent stated that there are too many of them.
An important part of the survey was to identify the reasons behind concerns over the current situation, with 73.2 percent of Slovak respondents expressing concern over the lack of knowledge about how long the measures will last. Another 72 percent fear that they or someone else they know might contract the virus and that they might have to go into hospital, or die. Approximately 58 percent are concerned about their incomes, with the same number worried about a lack of available jobs in the future. Only 20 percent of Slovaks are concerned by the fact that they can't attend religious masses and activities.
The Slovak team also analysed what it is that is helping people to deal with the unpleasant feelings provoked by the outbreak. The vast majority of respondents, 94.6 percent, stated that they cope with such feelings via remote communication with family and friends. Religion provides respite for 41 percent, while the least-used strategy is playing computer games, as only 25 percent said they resort to gaming.
