AFFECTIONS AND COPING STRATEGIES IN TIME OF CORONAVIRUS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Abstract

This study aimed to raise coping strategies to deal with social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The spread of the Covid-19 virus has turned into a pandemic as it spread throughout the world, leading to mobility restrictions for billions of people who have faced varying degrees of confinement. This situation has led to extreme emotions of fear, sadness, and feelings of anxiety, with impacts on people's psychological health. Research has shown that the ability to adequately regulate one's own emotions is very important for mental physical, and social health, and it is relevant to study how people deal with their emotions in stressful situations, such as the current context of isolation in the pandemic. A questionnaire was applied electronically to 463 participants from all over Brazil over the age of 18 years. Data analysis was qualitative, based on responses to an open item that asked about coping strategies to deal with social isolation.  The results showed the use of varied strategies to minimize stress and increase well-being. Cognitive reassessment, the search for social support, and distraction were highlighted.