I skuggan av en pandemi - En kvantitativ studie om välmående, oro och medgörlighet i coronapandemin

Sammanfattning: The current situation in the world is a unique one, as a result of the rapid and far-reaching spread of the COVID-19 virus. The purpose of this study was to investigate Swedish citizens' mental well-being, worry, and compliance amid the ongoing pandemic. Specifically, differences between Stockholm and other large Swedish cities, and differences between genders were explored, as well as correlations between the variables of well-bring, worry and compliance. The relationship between worry for oneself and others was also examined. These variables were measured using a survey study with 113 participants from various cities and towns in Sweden, in which they answered questions related to worry, overall well-being and the degree to which they followed the recommendations that Folkhälsomyndigheten, the Public Health Agency of Sweden, have established to prevent the spread of the virus. In the results, differences were found in the variables measuring well-being and worry between men and women as well as between those living in Stockholm versus other large cities, where well-being was higher and worry lower among Stockholmers and men. The results also showed a positive correlation between worry and compliance, as well as a correlation between worry and lower well-being. However, no significant differences in compliance were found between different cities nor between genders. Key words: coronavirus, compliance, pandemic, unrealistic optimism, feelings-as-information theory, crisis psychology