ANXIETY ABOUT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 – ADVERSE IMPACT ON PUBLIC HEALTH

This article presents a study on the level of anxiety regarding the spread of COVID-19 among social work professionals, their attitude towards vaccines, and the influence of certain demographic characteristics. Purpose: The main purpose of the study is to assess the levels of anxiety, attitudes toward vaccines, and trust in information sources among social work professionals in order to support the development of more effective strategies for enhancing support and protecting their mental health. Materials/Methods: An online survey was conducted with 316 social work professionals from several Bulgarian regions, and statistical analyses (SPSS) were applied to examine anxiety, vaccine attitudes, and demographic influences. Results: The analysis shows that most professionals experience high anxiety (61%) regarding COVID-19, exhibit mixed attitudes toward vaccines (41% positive, 46% hesitant), and demonstrate varying levels of trust in medical information, with demographic factors significantly affecting these variables. Conclusions: The obtained results provide grounds for recommendations that contribute to improving the public health of those working in helping professions.