Iryna Filchuk - Postgraduate student. Lecture of the Department of Psychology of Activity in Special conditions. National University of Civil Protection of Ukraine.
ORCID 0009-0008-2228-0425
DOI - https://doi.org/10.52363/dcpp-2025.1.12
Keywords: psychological trauma, war, psychoemotional state, personality, traumatization.
This study focuses on individuals affected by the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The primary aim of the work is to examine the psychoemotional state of individuals in wartime conditions.
To achieve the set goal, an original questionnaire titled «Subjective Assessment of the Psychoemotional State of a Person Affected by War» was developed. The questionnaire consists of 17 statements describing specific stress factors, as well as a separate question for the subjective assessment of traumatization.
The results of the survey revealed that the majority of respondents assessed their condition as average (57.4%). A trend toward a heightened level of traumatization was also observed, as indicated by 27.8% of participants.
One of the most important scales is «Social Losses Due to the Outbreak of the Full-Scale Invasion». The results show that 70.4% of respondents lost the ability to maintain contact with their close social circle, which, in our opinion, represents a significant stress factor. Nearly 60% of participants stated that they had lost their previous standard of living and social status since the start of the war. This traumatic factor is most frequently observed among respondents aged 40 and older and is compounded by the experience of a midlife crisis. At this stage of life, individuals tend to evaluate their accomplishments and reflect on their past experiences. However, due to the war, many were forced to leave their homes, abandon their jobs, and start their lives over. Therefore, we consider this stress factor to be among the most intense.
An interesting conclusion was drawn during an in-depth analysis of the «Degree of Loss within the Reference Group» and «Residence in Occupied Territory» scales. Some respondents indicated that they had experienced these traumatic events, yet still rated their level of war-related traumatization as low. We assume that this phenomenon may be associated with the psychological defense mechanism known as dissociation, through which individuals detach themselves from their emotional experiences.
For this reason, the study of the subjective level of traumatization is a relevant and important research direction. The findings can contribute to work with war-affected individuals, and to the development of appropriate programs aimed at restoring psychoemotional well-being and providing psychological support to the affected population.