Daily war stressors: adaptive and maladaptive effects on mental health

- Бялонович, С.В. (orcid.org/0009-0007-6407-1157) (2025) Daily war stressors: adaptive and maladaptive effects on mental health Věda a perspektivy, 4 (47). pp. 167-179. ISSN 2695-1584

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Abstract

Abstract. The article presents the results of an empirical study devoted to analyzing the impact of daily war-related stressors on the mental health of Ukraine’s civilian population. The author emphasizes that in conditions of prolonged war psychologists should focus not only on acute traumatic events, such as combat operations or the loss of loved ones, but also on less visible everyday stressors. Among these, the most significant are economic instability, social isolation, forced changes in lifestyle, and constant uncertainty about the future. Despite their less obvious nature, these factors, due to their cumulative effect, may lead to deeper and longer-lasting psychological consequences. The methodological basis of the study includes variance analysis techniques (ANOVA, MANOVA), which made it possible to determine the specific effects of different types of stressors (direct and indirect) on components of mental health such as family cohesion, spiritual mobilization, cognitive activity, strategic thinking, social interaction, and creative potential. The obtained results demonstrate a complex interaction between adaptive and maladaptive effects of daily stress. In particular, it was found that a high level of stress can activate adaptive mechanisms, including strengthening family ties, increasing spirituality, enhancing prosocial behavior, and mobilizing cognitive resources to solve urgent problems. At the same time, prolonged exposure to elevated stress significantly limits strategic thinking and creativity due to emotional and cognitive exhaustion. The study concludes that maintaining the mental health of civilians under wartime conditions requires the development of specialized psychological strategies that take into account the multidimensional nature of daily stressors. In particular, promising areas of intervention include family and social support programs, maintaining cognitive balance, and developing creative resources as mechanisms of effective adaptation.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Daily war stressors, mental health, adaptive mechanisms, cognitive mobilization, emotional regulation, social support, strategic thinking.
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 Science and knowledge. Organization. Computer science. Information. Documentation. Librarianship. Institutions. Publications > 6 Applied Sciences. Medicine. Technology > 61 Medical sciences
Divisions:	The Institute of Social and Political Psychology > Department of Psychology of Political and Legal Relations
Depositing User:	н.с. Сергій Володимирович Бялонович
Date Deposited:	09 Mar 2026 09:24
Last Modified:	09 Mar 2026 09:24
URI:	https://lib.iitta.gov.ua/id/eprint/748571

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