Psychosocial stress and risk assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Some preliminary thoughts

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Abstract

Human life and activities are associated with risk, as risk is inherent in all forms of human existence and action. Risk is regarded as a phenomenological variable considering how people perceive it, especially during a crisis they experience. This paper discusses the characteristics of human behavior in a crisis, with an emphasis on hazard perception and risk assessment, for the purpose of understanding people’s decisions and adaptation before, during, and after a crisis. The discussion focuses on the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic.

Keywords

Psychosocial stress

Risk assessment

Health crisis

COVID-19

Serbia

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