Abstract | Pandemija SARS-CoV-2 virusa drastično je promijenila svakodnevni život i ljudsko ponašanje. Protuepidemijske mjere mijenjaju način interakcije i komunikacije između ljudi te sa postavkama „novog normalnog“ uzrokuju promjene u svakodnevici s odrazom na psihičko stanje populacije. Pandemija kao iznenadni stresor budi strah od bolesti, financijskih teškoća, društvenog otuđenja, ali i drugih ljudi. U posebno osjetljivoj situaciji nalaze se zdravstveni djelatnici, starije osobe, djeca i mladi te osobe s mentalnim poremećajima. Zdravstveni djelatnici doživljavaju povećanu razinu stresa na radnom mjestu, koja remeti njihove svakodnevne funkcije, narušava kvalitetu spavanja i odnos s ukućanima. Starije osobe zbog osjećaja zanemarivanja i napuštenosti u manjoj mjeri vode brigu o vlastitom zdravlju te su sklonije lošijem ishodu infekcije zbog kasno prepoznatih simptoma. Djeca i mladi zbog online tranzicije ostvaruju kontakte putem društvenih mreža s kojih često prikupljaju i netočne informacije i bivaju zatrpani podacima koje ne mogu razumjeti. Događaju se i promjene u životnim navikama poput drukčijih prehrambenih navika, promjene u razini fizičke aktivnosti te konzumaciji sredstava ovisnosti. Takve promjene rezultat su stresa i negativnih emocija uzrokovanih pandemijom. S obzirom da bi psihološke posljedice pandemije mogle imati reperkusije na zdravlje i ponašanje društva u budućnosti, valjalo bi razviti mjere i slijediti primjer intervencija koje su se tijekom pandemije pokazale uspješnima. |
Abstract (english) | The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has drastically altered daily life and human behavior. Anti-epidemic measures have changed the way people interact and communicate, leading to a "new normal" that has brought changes in daily life, affecting the mental well-being of the population. The pandemic, as a sudden stressor, instills fear of illness, financial difficulties, social isolation, and anxiety about other people. Particularly vulnerable groups include healthcare workers, the elderly, children, youth, and individuals with mental disorders. Healthcare workers experience increased workplace stress, which disrupts their daily functions, affects sleep quality, and strains their relationships with family members. Older individuals, feeling neglected and abandoned, may pay less attention to their own health, making them more susceptible to worse outcomes in case of late symptom recognition. Children and youth, due to the transition to online activities, establish connections through social media where they often encounter inaccurate information and become overwhelmed by data they cannot comprehend. Changes in lifestyle habits such as altered dietary choices, variations in physical activity levels, and increased substance use are also observed. These changes are a result of the stress and negative emotions triggered by the pandemic. Considering that the psychological consequences of the pandemic could have repercussions on society's health and behavior in the future, it is essential to develop measures and follow successful intervention strategies that have emerged during the pandemic. |