Introduction: COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory disease that first appeared in China in December 2019. The infection is transmitted by droplet infection and leads to a high morbidity and mortality rate. The World Health Organization has declared a pandemic, with strict restrictions such as the wearing of masks, a ban on movement and social distancing. Emotions such as anxiety, stress, fear, isolation, loneliness and anger were experienced, which had a negative impact on the quality of life of those affected. Aim: To map the quality of life of individuals during the COVID-19 epidemic in Slovenia with the aim of formulating interventions for quality mental health care. Working methods: The questionnaire is part of an international project that investigates the relationship between an individual's personality and specific reactions to the situation, e.g. beliefs about the coronavirus, emotional reactions, cognitive processes and behavioral reactions during the pandemic. It also examines the relationship between an individual's personality and their specific reactions to a situation. The literature was searched in the following databases APA PSycNet, Eurosurveillance Jounal, ERIC, Medline, PubMed, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, Elsevier, SageJournals, IAAP, Nature Medicine, NCBI, MDPI, WILEY and via the Google Scholar web browser. We measured quality of life with seven questionnaires describing life satisfaction, ability to cope with stress, experience of social relationships, feelings of anxiety, behaviors, beliefs, and well-being during the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Slovenia. Results: 351 people took part in the survey. There are statistically significant differences in people's behaviors, feelings of anxiety, beliefs and well-being between different age groups, genders, education levels and economic status. There is an increased emotional response and discomfort with marked anxiety and a balanced approach to following recommended prevention measures, taking into account the emotional and social impact of restricting social interactions. The lack of connection between individual and social norms and proactive participation in the defense of public health and dissemination of correct information is evident. Discussion and conclusion: We find significant associations between overall life satisfaction and feeling able to cope with personal problems; well-being and satisfaction with various aspects of their lives; their feelings of anxiety and coping with stress; feelings and behavior. Considering individual differences in terms of feelings of perceived threat, stress reactivity and resilience is key to an individual's experience of the epidemic and the impact on their quality of life. Establishing expert-led support groups and ensuring continuous access to psychosocial support via the internet and telephone is crucial for a positive impact on individuals' quality of life.
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