Appendiks Metoder og opmærksomhedspunkter

First and foremost, the appendix explains the operationalization of the approach of the COVID-19 survey. As background for the articles, which presenting and interpret the analytical results, it also documents specific methodological approaches such as scales of religiosity and wellbeing, and factor-analysis of some of the survey responses. Approaches to content analysis are also delineated. Finally, we acknowledge and discuss the challenges associated with comparing surveys collected at different times and with different sampling approach. © 2021 Aarhus Universitet. All rights reserved.

Livsmening, krise og optimisme under COVID-19-epidemiens første nedlukning

This article investigates how the lockdown during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic affected the Danish population existentially in terms of experienced meaning in life or crisis of meaning, and whether specific socio-demographic characteristics and mental health were associated with these existential factors. The study finds that a majority of Danes express hope and trust in secular resources such as science, authorities, and humanity. This was also prevalent among participants who described themselves as religious. One-fourth of participants reported experiencing increased meaning in life, while another fourth reported experiencing a crisis of meaning. Especially young participants reported increased meaningfulness, but also higher crisis of meaning. Reporting a crisis of meaning was moderately associated with poorer mental health, as well as fear of contamination and lower education and income. This may indicate that individuals having fewer socio-economic resources are more vulnerable in a crisis like this. © 2021 Aarhus Universitet. All rights reserved.

Befolkningens reaktion på COVID-19 set i lyset af aviser og andre medier

The population of Denmark had no former expericence with pandemics, meaning that its evaluation of risk and the necessary measures against contagnation were dependent on the dissemination of information through the media. This article uses a media-centric prism to discuss the themes found throughout this special issue, arguing that the Government's use of the media as well as the media's support of rapidly evolving government policies had a decisive impact on the population's response. This argument is supported by a thematically organized discussion of events between 11 March until the early part of October 2020. The themes are the horror raised by the pandemic, the ethical considerations regarding easy and equal access to the health services, unemployment, global warming and, not the least, religion as seen in relation to COVID-19. This last theme is considered in relation to whether the pandemic could be a punishment decided by God or perhaps a personified Nature's revenge due to humans' ill-tratment. The meaning of the prohibition on public rituals and the application of private rituals are considered at last. © 2021 Aarhus Universitet. All rights reserved.

COVID-19-krisen: Forløb og bekymringer

This article offers an overview over the political steps and containment proceedures during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark 2020. © 2021 Aarhus Universitet. All rights reserved.

Helbred og trivsel

During the first COVID-19 lockdown, public health officials and political decision makers were aware that the lockdown would have some sort of psychological repercussion, but it was totally unknown what reactions the disease would evoke. This article investigates how the physical and mental health (well-being) were affected. Data from the COVID-19 survey indicate that negative consequences were uneven distributed in the population with especially young women, but also young men reporting alarming degrees of low well-being. © 2021 Aarhus Universitet. All rights reserved.