Author/Editor		Lo Coco, Gianluca; Gentile, Ambra; Bosnar, Ksenja; Milovanović, Ivana; Bianco, Antonino; Drid, Patrik; Pišot, Saša
Title		A cross-country examination on the fear of COVID-19 and the sense of loneliness during the first wave of COVID-19 outbreak
Type		članek
Vol. and No.		Letnik 18, št. 5
Publication year		2021
Volume		str. 1-12
ISSN		1660-4601 - International journal of environmental research and public health
Language		eng
Abstract		The aim of the current study is to examine gender, age. and cross-country differences in fear of COVID-19 and sense of loneliness during the lockdown, by comparing people from those countries with a high rate of infections and deaths (e.g., Spain and Italy) and from countries with a mild spread of infection (e.g., Croatia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina). A total of 3876 participants (63% female) completed an online survey on %Everyday life practices in COVID-19 time% in April 2020, including measures of fear of COVID-19 and loneliness. Males and females of all age groups in countries suffering from the powerful impact of the COVID-19 pandemic reported greater fear of COVID-19 and sense of loneliness. In less endangered countries, females and the elderly reported more symptoms than males and the young; in Spanish and Italian samples, the pattern of differences is considerably more complex. Future research should thoroughly examine different age and gender groups. The analysis of emotional well-being in groups at risk of mental health issues may help to lessen the long term social and economic costs due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Keywords		coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic public health restrictions isolation loneliness fear psychosocial distress koronavirus COVID-19 pandemije javno zdravje ukrepi izolacija osamljenost strah psihosocialne stiske