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Publisher: Peytchinski Publishing Ltd.
ISSN: 1312-773X (Online)
Issue: 2025, vol. 31, issue4
Subject Area: Medicine
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DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2025314.6663
Published online: 09 December 2025
Review article
J of IMAB. 2025 Oct-Dec;31(4):6663-6666
ANXIETY ABOUT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 – ADVERSE IMPACT ON PUBLIC HEALTH
Antoniya Sivreva1
, Nadya Vlaeva2
, Boryana Parashkevova2, Nedelina Kostadinova3,
1) Department of Medical psychology, Social Work, foreign languages, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University - Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
2) Department of Social Medicine, Health Management and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University - Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
3) Department of Health Care, Medical College, Trakia University - Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT:
This article presents a study on the level of anxiety regarding the spread of COVID-19 among social work professionals, their attitude towards vaccines, and the influence of certain demographic characteristics.
Purpose: The main purpose of the study is to assess the levels of anxiety, attitudes toward vaccines, and trust in information sources among social work professionals in order to support the development of more effective strategies for enhancing support and protecting their mental health.
Materials/Methods: An online survey was conducted with 316 social work professionals from several Bulgarian regions, and statistical analyses (SPSS) were applied to examine anxiety, vaccine attitudes, and demographic influences.
Results: The analysis shows that most professionals experience high anxiety (61%) regarding COVID-19, exhibit mixed attitudes toward vaccines (41% positive, 46% hesitant), and demonstrate varying levels of trust in medical information, with demographic factors significantly affecting these variables.
Conclusions: The obtained results provide grounds for recommendations that contribute to improving the public health of those working in helping professions.
Keywords: COVID-19, Public Health, Social Work Professionals,
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Please cite this article as: Sivreva A, Vlaeva N, Parashkevova B, Kostadinova N. Anxiety about the spread of COVID-19 – adverse impact on public health. J of IMAB. 2025 Oct-Dec;31(4):6663-6666. [Crossref - 10.5272/jimab.2025314.6663]
Correspondence to: Assoc. Prof. Nadya Vlaeva, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University-Stara Zagora; 11, Armeiska St., Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; E-mail: nadya.vlaeva@trakia-uni.bg
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Received: 21 October 2025
Published online: 09 December 2025