Page 10 - IJPS-8-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Psychosocial stress and risk assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic

Analysis of the current state and scenario in Serbia’s fight was difficult to implement the social measures of control
against COVID-19 has generated several questions: What and enforcement. It is true that specific regions and social
is the best solution based on all currently available data; strata were more ready to act obediently and to accept
th
is the 20 century-based epidemiology and the manner control, while others displayed a more liberal attitude and
of handling previous epidemics (the plague, Spanish flu, broke the rules of conduct during a state of emergency.
smallpox, anthrax, swine influenza, and avian influenza) All this ultimately boils down to the characteristics of
really the best way to handle a virus with a mortality rate risk management, the level of psychosocial stress, and
of about 1%; does isolation or mandatory hospitalization the individual and social risk assessment. In new and
of asymptomatic cases make sense; how does a curfew unfamiliar situations, it is always beneficial to use well-
contribute to the prevention of virus spread; and does established knowledge and skills, especially when they
the fear caused by insufficient knowledge about the virus are certain to produce favorable results; however, in cases
justify all the measures taken? involving a high degree of uncertainty, anxiety, and stress,
effective risk management is based on the preparedness to
It is reasonable to accept that the issue can be resolved
using previously successful strategies. Alternatively, do something that others might find impossible.
simple solutions can be offered to appease the populace or 4. Conclusions
more drastic measures can be taken as if dealing with an
st
extremely infectious and dangerous disease. Nevertheless, At the turn of the 21 century, the balance of caring for
it is difficult to provide definite answers to the above human well-being and the quality of life shifted, with
questions that could validate simple strategies. First of safety issues becoming more important, so risk assessment
all, decision-makers have to consider the assessment of became a legal obligation when conducting numerous
the type and level of risk to which people are exposed activities in many countries. Beck described the efforts
as individuals, a group, or the entire nation. In addition, that the stakeholders – governments, corporations, and
successful strategies and individual measures rely on the others – expended to manage risk perception and risk
consensus across all levels and careful involvement of all management policies (Beck, 1992). If the natural disasters
stakeholders. Ultimately, the question is whether citizens are accompanied by technological and anthropogenic
should be forced to behave in a specific way or whether crises and disasters, such as climate change, urban
they should be allowed to choose such behavior, either overpopulation, drinking water shortage in many parts of
because they trust the authority that imposes it or because the world, and the risk of new diseases and epidemics like
they personally think it makes sense. It is well known that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which had destructive
fear of repression can be a powerful tool for ensuring social effects on every aspect of people’s lives, then it is reasonable
st
obedience, but the patterns of behavior established this way to assume that the remainder of the 21 century will be
cannot be sustained in the long run. If a single solution is ridden with ever-emerging crises having ever more serious
implemented with strict persistence to minimize risk and consequences, while the mechanisms in place used for
avoid fatalities, individual solution strategies may emerge prevention, preparedness, control, and response will fail
based on subjective risk assessment, which would, in turn, to keep up. All the aforementioned factors impose an
disrupt the established social structure. Likewise, the urgent need to establish new mechanisms of risk control
decision-makers have to take the time factor of the crisis both globally and nationally, as the crisis caused by the
and risk into account to be able to vigorously and flexibly COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing.
adapt measures and solutions. Conflicts of interest
In times of collective stress and societal crisis,
the characteristics of national culture should not be The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
disregarded. Some individuals and communities have a Funding
highly pronounced need to avoid danger and uncertainty,
so during a crisis they tend to adhere to their rigid beliefs The authors received no funding for this paper.
and behavior, to be less tolerant toward innovations,
and to feel an emotional need for strict rules. Under the Authors’ contributions
current circumstances, such a trait of national culture has All authors participated in the preparation and writing
proven favorable for strategies that rely on enforcement, of the paper and meet all the criteria for authorship.
obedience, and preservation of order and control in some Conceptualization: Milanko Čabarkapa and Teodora
countries (e.g., South Korea, China, or Germany), whereas Safiye; writing – original draft preparation: Teodora Safiye
in other countries (e.g., Italy, Spain, France, and Serbia), it and Milanko Čabarkapa; writing – review and editing:

Volume 8 Issue 2 (2022) 4 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.v8i2.1335