SOURCES OF STRESS, AND COPING STRATEGIES OF SLOVAK ELDERLY IN THE FIRST WAVE OF THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

The COVID-19 pandemic is often associated with the phrase coronavirus crisis. A crisis can be defined by three characteristics: a specific, unexpected event that creates a high level of uncertainty, and involves a (perceived) threat to important goals (Seeger et al., 1998). The aim of this research is to examine more deeply how the "coronavirus crisis" manifested itself at an individual level in the most vulnerable groups of the population, the elderly (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020; Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic, 2020), during the first wave of the disease in Slovakia. In particular, the aim is to examine which specific stressors are perceived as stressful (which are sources of stress) and which coping strategies are preferred by the elderly, as well as how these sources of stress and coping strategies relate to the demographic characteristics of the elderly (both in gender and age). Using the snowball method, 607 people over the age of 62 from all over Slovakia participated in the online research. The findings point to the need to perceive the stress experience of each elderly person as unique. Research findings can be useful for the elderly themselves, but also for those who work with elderly and/or implement interventions.