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.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, loneliness, Fear of COVID-19, Cross-country, Psychosocial distress, 【초록키워드】 lockdown, COVID-19 pandemic, Infection, Gender, risk, Symptom, Italy, Spread, COVID-19 outbreak, Croatia, male, female, Research, Spain, death, Mild, age, group, Analysis, Slovenia, emotional, complex, help, measure, participant, Slovakia, Spanish, Future, country, Italian, greater, reported, less, groups, age and gender, all age group, mental health issue, rate of infection, 【제목키워드】 fear, Wave, examination, sense,