Mental state of Ukrainians in the context of war: a comparative analysis of psychological differences between those who left and those who remained

- Панок, Віталій Григорович (orcid.org/0000-0003-1421-0554), Предко, Вікторія Володимирівна (orcid.org/0000-0001-5160-7636) and Якимчук, Г.В. (orcid.org/0000-0003-1272-6290) (2025) Mental state of Ukrainians in the context of war: a comparative analysis of psychological differences between those who left and those who remained Вісник Львівського університету. Серія психологічні науки (25). pp. 152-163. ISSN 2522-1876

Text Стаття_Панок В.Г., Предко В.В., Якимчук Г.В. _Псих.стан_№ 25, 2025-152-163.pdf - Published Version Download (494kB)

Abstract

The article is devoted to a comparative analysis of the psychological state, mental health, tolerance of uncertainty, stress resilience, and coping strategies of Ukrainians who remained in Ukraine and those who went abroad as a result of the war. The study involved 348 participants of different ages, representing various regions, including individuals currently living abroad. The results of the empirical research revealed significant psycho-emotional disturbances. Both groups are characterized by low levels of mental health and stress resilience, high levels of anxiety, frustration, rigidity, and sleep disorders, reflecting the significant stress impact of the war. However, respondents who went abroad demonstrate a poorer psychological state, showing higher levels of anxiety, frustration, and rigidity compared to those who stayed in Ukraine. At the same time, they exhibit higher stress resilience than those who remained. Moreover, statistically significant differences were found in the indicators of “tolerance of uncertainty” and “problem-focused coping strategies,” which were significantly higher among those who moved abroad compared to those who stayed. This may indicate their ability to mobilize internal resources under challenging adaptive conditions despite existential distress. At the same time, they demonstrate a lower level of mental health than individuals who remained in Ukraine. Thus, both Ukrainians who stayed in the country and those who left show unfavorable indicators of psychological state and mental health. This indicates that even while being outside Ukraine, people remain emotionally tied to the traumatic experience of war, maintaining a strong connection with the sense of danger. They continuously reproduce images of threat in their minds, worry about loved ones, and experience a sense of loss. An additional stress factor is the complex process of adapting to a new socio-cultural environment, overcoming language barriers, and losing familiar social roles and resources, which increases emotional tension and complicates the restoration of psychological balance. Accordingly, war is a powerful stressor that threatens human life and health even under relatively safe conditions. Regardless of location, people face high levels of stress due to the loss of loved ones, homes, jobs, and their usual way of life. Such events cause macro- and micro-traumas, destroy the sense of security, increase uncertainty, and provoke anxiety, fear, disappointment, and exhaustion, negatively affecting emotional regulation and behavior. War disrupts the established life course and requires psychological support to restore resources, social connections, and adaptive capacity. The obtained results have practical significance for the development of psychological interventions aimed at strengthening stress resilience, developing adaptive coping strategies, and increasing tolerance of uncertainty to minimize the negative consequences of prolonged stress and restore the mental well-being of Ukrainians both in Ukraine and abroad. The research was carried out with the grant support of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine within the project “Post-COVID Socio-Psychological Rehabilitation of Participants in the Educational Process in the Activities of Employees of the Psychological Service,” registration number 2021.01/0198.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	mental health, war, coping strategies, tolerance of uncertainty, psychological state
Subjects:	Science and knowledge. Organization. Computer science. Information. Documentation. Librarianship. Institutions. Publications > 1 Philosophy. Psychology Science and knowledge. Organization. Computer science. Information. Documentation. Librarianship. Institutions. Publications > 3 Social Sciences > 304 Social questions. Social practice. Cultural practice. Way of life (Lebensweise) Science and knowledge. Organization. Computer science. Information. Documentation. Librarianship. Institutions. Publications > 3 Social Sciences > 314/316 Society > 316 Соціологія
Divisions:	Ukrainian Scientific and Methodological Center of Applied Psychology and Social Work > Laboratory of Applied Psychology of Education
Depositing User:	Ганна Якимчук
Date Deposited:	27 Nov 2025 16:23
Last Modified:	27 Nov 2025 16:23
URI:	https://lib.iitta.gov.ua/id/eprint/747372

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