IMPLICATIONS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE WORLD AND THE ROMANIAN SOCIETY. AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

Abstract

This article examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected mental health while the virus was spreading and governments took measures around the world, in Europe and, more specifically, in Romania, while paying particular attention to vulnerable categories of individuals, parent-child interactions and distress, educational changes and adaptive behaviours, work-related stress and communication, digitalization and lack of proper social contact. The impact of the pandemic on several facets of mental health as well as its impact on the situations is evaluated using data from current literature.
 The findings demonstrate that the pandemic has had a profoundly negative influence on mental health, resulting in higher levels of stress and anxiety, lower overall life satisfaction, and a higher likelihood of developing a depressive disorder. Additionally, it shows several modifications in the child-parent connection, including a decline in communication and an uptick in conflict, as well as comparable tendencies in the educational field. While digitalization sure was a solution and it made things easier, it also led to a bigger gender gap and work-family balance issues which put more pressure on women and their career development. Cyberchondria now replaces hypochondria, efficiency in education hits a peak but we lack effectiveness and, while the solutions found were appropriate and best for diverse situations, they also outlined more problems that overtook the advantages. We need to develop and adapt but we must not forget about what technology cannot yet replace: emotion, empathy, warmth and all that keeps us mentally healthy and wealthy.