THE RELIGIOUS AND MENTAL HEALTH DETERMINANTS OF THE COVID-19'S FEAR IN THE CEE COUNTRIES

The research analyses the relationship between fear and religiosity, particularly focusing on religious habits and intrinsic religiosity in the context of the covid-19 pandemic. A total number of 2212 questionnaires have been collected in Romania, Poland, Slovenia and Hungary in 2021 on the non -vaccinated population. The questionnaire covers topics such as vaccination, religiosity and socio-demographics, and includes the DASS 21 psychological scale, which measures depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. Furthermore, the questionnaire incorporated a specific question regarding the fear of SARS-CoV-2 virus. The findings show that the intrinsic religiosity, age, stress, anxiety and exposure to the news from the traditional media or to the information coming from professional sources seem to increase the degree of fear during the pandemic context. The study yields significant implications for understanding the complex interplay of factors shaping the vaccination attitudes of this group, as well as how they obtain information. This may contribute to developing more effective communication channels for people with passive strategies for coping with fear and anxiety. The need to seek information in times of uncertainty and attitudes that indicate a higher level of intimate religiosity can be leveraged to build more effective coping strategies for unexpected external events or situations that cause fear and anxiety. This is important in light of the ongoing development of Central and Eastern European countries and their specific social and economic background.