Fears of 18–30-Year-Olds in Moscow and the Moscow Region in the Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Periods

Abstract

The article contains the results of a study conducted at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020) and after the abolition of self-isolation (July-August 2020) with the participation of 80 residents of Moscow and the Moscow region who joined the VKontakte social network group (40 men and 40 women aged 18–30). Applied: 1) ISAS questionnaire Yu. Scherbatykh and E. Ivleva, with the help of which the hierarchical structure of the actual fears of the subjects was studied; 2) V. Levy’s method (C-test); 3) multidimensional functional diagnosis of fear (DS). It is shown that at the peak of the pandemic, the male and female samples were dominated by fears of the consequences of the illness of loved ones, the illness of loved ones, and getting sick. At the same time, men were diagnosed with more pronounced fears of responsibility, as well as fears related to sexual function, and aggression towards loved ones; the female sample was distinguished by fears of spiders and snakes, for the heart, “exams”, war, confined spaces, depth, and public speaking. After the lifting of the quarantine in the male and female samples in the hierarchy of fears continued to lead the same fear; the intensity of fears decreased in both samples, however, women were more severe than in men, with increased additional parameters experiences of fear; women found to have a high sensitivity to the parameter “Effects of fear” – they have longer to recover and enter into the usual rhythm of life after the alarming situations of everyday life. The three most “active” fears are noted, the study of which will contribute to this: 1) fear of getting sick; 2) fear of aggression in relationships with loved ones (especially important for young men); 3) mental instability.