A CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF WAR ON INDIVIDUALS OF DIFFERENT AGES AND PLACES OF RESIDENCE

Abstract

This study is about young adults aged 18 to 30’s psychological crisis states during the ongoing war in Ukraine. It is a study on the direct effects of war as a prominent stressogenic factor on their mental health and well-being. It employs a combination of methods such as quantitative surveys, in-depth interviews, and case studies to research the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses of individuals deprived of the conflict. The research looks at the differences between the genders, the split in the age group (18–24 and 25–30), and the displacement status (forced migrants versus the ones that stayed in their communities) of the participants particularly. Major findings exhibit too high the levels of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among especially the ones that had direct combat exposure or were forced to leave their homes. The emotional responses of adolescents (18–24) are characterized by high levels of emotional reactivity, utilizing avoidance coping mechanisms, and higher susceptibility to stress. In turn, adults at the ages of 25–30 apply mainly cognitive and relational strategies, like problem-solving and community support, which points to the resilience differences between age groups. There is a new study suggesting that besides individual factors, social support systems and cultural resilience are important in the alleviation of the negative influences of war. Among the factors, social networks, communal practices, and traditional rituals are mentioned as the ones, which provide a safety pool and a feeling of being important. Moreover, the authors indicate that excessive use of digital content that is distressing, which is seen mainly in the younger population, is the cause of further anxiety and emotional distress, therefore showing that social media has a dual role functioning both as a coping tool, and also as a stressor. Studies pay attention to the high priority and cultural specificity of psychiatric support, which should be designed for the peculiar needs of young people in Ukraine. These programs have to be concentrated on empowering defenders, improving the availability of psychological support, and integrating digital skills classes to cushion the effect of harmful content.