The structure and psychological reactions of the population of Kazakhstan associated with COVID-19

The relevance of the study is based on the fact that the global community has been struggling with coronavirus infection since 2019. Currently, severe restrictions and new measures of social distancing are being actively implemented. The COVID-19 pandemic affects people physically and psychologically (anxiety, worry, fear, anger, depressive disorders and self-destructive behaviour). Based on this, the research is designed to analyse and explore the structure and psychological reactions of the population in the context of a coronavirus pandemic. The main methods of researching the problem are methods of analysis, classification, deduction, questionnaires, synthesis and generalisation, which help to identify the adverse effects of coronavirus infection and self-isolation on the psychological and psychophysiological state of the population. The research covers the impact of coronavirus infection on the psychological state of an individual; demonstrates specific stressors during quarantine and illness; and demonstrates the occurrence of anxiety, asthenia, depression and stress disorder after illness; described the most vulnerable groups to the psychosocial and psycho-emotional consequences of COVID-19: a detailed literature review was performed and the main approaches to reducing risks and threats to mental health from the COVID-19 pandemic were specified; the most vulnerable groups were identified, considering gender and age characteristics; psychological and psychophysiological changes in people who survived COVID-19 (based on a survey in Aktobe); models and methods of psychological support during the pandemic were considered. The material in this research may be of practical and theoretical value to sociologists, psychologists, physicians, healthcare ministers and scientists, who can explore in depth the phenomenon of psychological reactions of the population associated with COVID-19, and suggest possible solutions to the problem.