SOME TENDENCIES OF THE MASS CONSCIOUNESS OF UKRAINIANS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of the paper is to determine the specific components of the mass consciousness of Ukrainian citizens in the context of a pandemic coronavirus.
Methods. The article deals with the results of the social and psychological study conducted in Ukraine during the coronavirus epidemic and after the introduction of nationwide quarantine. An online survey (March 16‒25, 2020) has been carried out among 2424 people aged 18‒84 (average age is 36 years) from all major regions of Ukraine. Having regard to the gender imbalance of the sample (504 men and 1920 women), quantitative and qualitative data analysis has been done by gender subgroups.
Results. Men’s and women’s results have in common the following factors. They are a higher level of epidemic threat assessment for the world / their country compared to threats to themselves / their families; more critical assessments of the efforts of the national authorities in the fight against the pandemic than the authorities of foreign countries; an average level of support for conspiracy theories about the pandemic; low level of anger at subjects who have been blamed for the current situation. Sex differences have been manifested in the perception of the threats of the coronavirus epidemic and its coverage in the media; in assessing criticality of the national and foreign authorities steps in the fight against the pandemic; in assessments of nationwide quarantine and awareness of the virus; in intentions to reduce communication activity in quarantine; in experiences of fear, irritation and indifference. Respondents have mostly blamed ordinary people (and their negative traits), state structures, residents and authorities of China, tourists and workers returned from other countries for the spread of the virus in Ukraine and in the world. The mentioning frequency of these categories has been slightly affected by gender factor.
Conclusions. A coronavirus pandemic can be considered a specific (extreme) quasi-experimental situation that has significantly influenced the mass consciousness of Ukrainian citizens. Having affected public opinion and mass moods of Ukrainians, the epidemic has caused the emergence of certain social attitudes and beliefs, some of which are gender-based and the others are common to men and women.
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