Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
Abstract
The epidemic of COVID 19 has affected Iran as well of other countries. The aim of the present study is to analyze the perception and interpretation of Iranian citizens about this epidemics in the first stage. The study was performed qualitatively and the data were collected in March 1398 and April 1399 with saturation criteria with 20 citizens by semi-structured interview method. Thematic analysis method has been used to analyze data. The results of the study showed that people experience a kind of social anxiety from the crisis in the country. The way the government operates and is managed by the relevant authorities has caused dissatisfaction and a kind of public distrust. There is also this distrust of the media. The effects of epidemics on jobs and living problems have created a kind of anxious social sphere. However, the formation of a sphere of intimacy in families, and spiritual self-improvement were among the positive experiences of the participants in this study. The five main themes of crisis management research were social distrust, virus economics, psycho-health pressures, and positive rethinking.Based on the results of the research, in the current and future epidemics, it is recommended for policymakers to build social trust and increase awareness in the field of individual-social health.
According to the research results, social work at the individual and community level can play an active role in epidemics. Providing counseling to social policymakers in crises and identifying and assisting target groups to reduce the psychological pressures of the epidemic,
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