╤Аrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa IJSA SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. Health Care Sciences ORIGINAL RESEARCH Resistance to Post-traumatic Stress Reactions of Vulnerable Groups Engaged in Pandemic Liquidation Melnyk Yu. B.1,2,3 ABCDEG, Stadnik A. V.1,2,4,5 BCDEG, Pypenko I. S.1,2,6 ACFG AuthorsтАЩ Contribution: 1 Kharkiv Regional Public Organization тАЬCulture of HealthтАЭ (KRPOCH), Ukraine A тАУ Study design; 2 Scientific Research Institute KRPOCH, Ukraine B тАУ Data collection; 3 National Academy of the National Guard of Ukraine, Ukraine C тАУ Statistical analysis; 4 Social-Psychological Center KRPOCH, Ukraine D тАУ Data interpretation; 5 Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, Kharkiv, Ukraine E тАУ Manuscript preparation; 6 Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National University of Economics, Ukraine F тАУ Literature search; Received: 20.04.2020; Accepted: 20.05.2020; Published: 30.06.2020 G тАУ Funds collection Abstract Background and The increase in cases of post-traumatic stress reactions among vulnerable groups Aim of Study: engaged in the pandemic liquidation, make the problem urgent for nowadays. The aim of the study: to reveal the peculiarities of mental traumatic influence on military-men engaged into the COVID-19 pandemic liquidation; detail the level of stress, anxiety and depression in order to develop further actions concerning mental support and psycho-prophylaxis. Material and Methods: In order to conduct the research, we have engaged 334 military-men (of different categories: military-men for a regular term and military-men under a contract, officers (of the age from 18 to 40), who performed their duty of maintaining order together with the police. We have shortlisted 3 groups. The structured questionnaire consisted of questions grounded on the following methods: тАЬMississippi Scale for Estimating Post- Traumatic Reactions (military variant)тАЭ; тАЬDepression Anxiety Stress ScalesтАЭ; тАЬInsomnia Severity IndexтАЭ. CronbachтАЩs alpha is 0.817 (good internal consistency). Results: By the results of using the Mississippi scale for estimating post-traumatic reactions (military variant), the following fact has been stated: among military-men experienced in battle actions, the quantity of people with PTSR indicators accounted for 1.79%, that is significantly less than among military-men inexperienced in battle actions (3.42%). We have also revealed some certain gender peculiarities. Conclusions: Military-men experienced in battle actions display anxiety, depression, stress and sleep disorders considerably more rarely than military-men inexperienced in such. In our mind it is stipulated by the fact that committing professional duties in conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic is less stressful for military-men experienced in battle actions than the battle actions themselves which they are adapted to. Sleep disorders (the average point by тАЬInsomnia Severity IndexтАЭ methods) have been considerably higher among military-women, than among military-men in all the groups that is connected, with their higher extraversion and stress in the COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords: pandemic, anxiety, depression, stress, military-men, COVID-19 Copyright: ┬й 2020 Melnyk Yu. B., Stadnik A. V., Pypenko I. S. Published by Archives of International Journal of Science Annals DOI and UDC DOI 10.26697/ijsa.2020.1.5; UDC 159.972:616-07:159.938.363.6 Conflict of interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests Peer review: Double-blind review Source of support: This research did not receive any outside funding or support Information about Melnyk Yuriy Borysovych (Corresponding Author) тАУ https://orcid.org/0000-0002- the authors: 8527-4638; YBM.office@gmail.com; Doctor of Philosophy in Pedagogy, Associate Professor; Professor, National Academy of the National Guard of Ukraine; Founder and Chairman of the Board, KRPOCH; Director, Scientific Research Institute KRPOCH; Kharkiv, Ukraine. Stadnik Anatoliy Volodymyrovych тАУ https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1472-4224; Doctor of Philosophy in Medicine, Associate Professor, Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs; Director, Social-Psychological Center KRPOCH; Kharkiv, Ukraine. Pypenko Iryna Sergiivna тАУ https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5083-540X; Doctor of Philosophy in Economics, Associate Professor, Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National University of Economics; Co-Director, Scientific Research Institute KRPOCH; Director, Educational Center KRPOCH; Kharkiv, Ukraine. 35 International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2020 Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has led to expansion of women; Group 3 (Control): 105 military members problems concerning mental health. This problem has inexperienced in community policing as well as any been revealed by researchers in medical, psychological, battle actions, among them: 86 (81.90%) men and 19 and social fields. Their studies prove that the situation (18.10%) women. with the COVID-19 has provoked an increase in cases The study has been realised by such electronic means as of post-traumatic stress reactions and post-traumatic on-line messengers: Facebook, Telegram, WhatsApp stress disorders, of vulnerable groups in particular etc. This form of the on-line questionnaire has arisen (Holmes et al., 2020). Medical staff is one of the risk from the necessity to restrict group contacts under groups, which has a high possibility of psychological conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. problems. Medical workers are affected by such The structured questionnaire consisted of questions psychological factors as mental over-loading, danger to grounded on the following methods: тАЬMississippi Scale be personally infected and become a reason of infecting for Estimating Post-traumatic Reactions (military members of their own family, etc. (Johns Hopkins variant)тАЭ; тАЬDepression Anxiety Stress ScalesтАЭ (тАЬDASS- University, Coronavirus Resource Center, 2020). 21тАЭ); тАЬInsomnia Severity IndexтАЭ (тАЬISIтАЭ). However, besides medical staff, a significant role in Besides, military-men who had mental disorders by the overcoming the consequences of the pandemic is played results of the standardised psychological methods have by military-men of the National Guard and policemen been interviewed by psycho-diagnostics with the who maintain order among the population during the purpose of specifying symptoms and providing quarantine period. In Ukraine they perform the psychological support. following functions: enforce civil order in places of the CronbachтАЩs alpha used to assess the reliability of the quarantine regime and observation, control the structured questionnaire. CronbachтАЩs alpha is a measure population to follow restricting quarantine actions by used to assess the reliability, or internal consistency, of keeping up a patrol, etc. Policemen and military-men are a set of scale or test items. In other words, the reliability engaged in solving conflicts with the people who refuse of any given measurement refers to the extent to which to follow the quarantine requirements. Committing it is a consistent measure of a concept, and CronbachтАЩs functional duties creates a real threat to catch the disease alpha is one way of measuring the strength of that due to a direct contact with those who are infected by consistency. Using the module SPSS Statistics, the COVID-19. CronbachтАЩs alpha is 0.817. The obtained ╬▒ value is Moreover, on account of military-men taking part in the included in the interval 0.9╦Г╬▒тЙе0.8, indicating a good operation of joint forces in Donbas that was internal consistency. accompanied by actions of the whole set of factors of battle conditions, a lot of military-men generate the Results symptoms of post-traumatic stress reactions (PTSR) To assess the psychological influence of the COVID-19 (Melnyk, Prykhodko, & Stadnik, 2019; Melnyk & pandemic on military-men and the level of intensity of Stadnik, 2018). In terms of carrying out official duties at their post-traumatic stress reactions we have applied times of the COVID-19 pandemic, this group of тАЬMississippi Scale for Estimating Post-traumatic military-men is affected by additional stress factors as Reactions (military variant)тАЭ (Ahaiev et al., 2016). It has well. It stipulates the necessity to research vulnerability been developed to diagnose PTSR by military-men who to post-traumatic stress reactions of military-men who performed tasks in the zone of battle actions. The are engaged in the pandemic liquidation, as well as to Methods have been developed on the grounds of MMPI develop an effective system of preventing neurotic that consists of 35 questions forming three basic scales, disorders among them. which correlate with three groups of PTSR symptoms: The aim of the study. To reveal the peculiarities of 11 questions of the first scale describe symptoms of the mental traumatic influence on military-men engaged group тАЬinvasionтАЭ, 11 questions of the second scale into the COVID-19 pandemic liquidation; detail the describe symptoms of the group тАЬavoidanceтАЭ, 8 level of stress, anxiety and depression in order to questions of the third scale describe symptoms develop further actions concerning mental support and тАЬexcitabilityтАЭ, 5 questions describe symptoms psycho-prophylaxis. connected with a feeling of blame and suicide inclination. The number of the received points allows Materials and Methods dividing those who are under study into the following In order to conduct the research, we have engaged 334 groups: fewer than 77 points тАУ normative indices; 78-97 military-men (of different categories: military-men for a points тАУ certain symptoms of PTSR; 98-145 points тАУ regular term and military-men under a contract, officers indicators of PTSR (Ahaiev et al., 2016). (of the age from 18 to 40), who performed their duty of Further detalisation of psychopathological symptoms maintaining order together with the police. We have has been carried out by тАЬDASS-21тАЭ methods. It is a short shortlisted 3 groups: Group 1: 112 military members form of DASS (21 questions), that is intended for experienced in community policing and battle actions, measuring negative states of depression, anxiety and among them: 96 (85.71%) men and 16 (14.29%) stress. Assessment of DASS subscales has been realised women; Group 2: 117 military members experienced in according to the standardised methods (Psychology community policing, but inexperienced in battle actions, Foundation of Australia, 2018). The average number of among them: 99 (84.62%) men and 18 (15.38%) points by the scale has been assessed, as well as a 36 ╤Аrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa IJSA number of military-men with normal, insignificant, respondents have experienced any stress has been moderate, heavy and extremely heavy manifestations. evaluated by тАЬISIтАЭ methods (Bastien, Valli├иres, & The indicators by the scales Morin, 2001). The given methods are used to assess a тАЬDepressionтАЭ/тАЬAnxietyтАЭ/тАЬStressтАЭ are as follows: normal subjective level of insomnia which consists of 7 points manifestations: 0-3/0-4/0-7 points, insignificant being estimated by Likert scale from 0 to 4 points. The manifestations: 5-6/4-5/8-9 points, moderate average rate by тАЬISIтАЭ has been divided into: the absence manifestations: 7-10/6-7/10-12 points, heavy of clinically significant insomnia (0-7), subliminal manifestations: 11-13/8-9/13-16 points, extremely insomnia (8-14), moderately heavy clinical insomnia heavy manifestations: 14+/10+/17+. These methods are (15-21) and heavy clinical insomnia (22-28). appropriate for clinical and non-clinical conditions The estimate results of psychological influence of the (Henry & Crawford, 2005). To our mind, its application COVID-19 pandemic on military-men and the level of is expedient for people who have to act under extreme manifestations of post-traumatic stress reactions have conditions, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Other been revealed by the methods тАЬMississippi Scale for scientists share the same view (Tan, 2020). Estimating Post-traumatic Reactions (military variant)тАЭ The quality of sleep which indicates whether the presented in Table 1. Table 1. Psychological impact of the epidemic COVID-19 on military members and the severity of post-traumatic stress reactions. Group 11 Group 22 Group 3 (Control)3 Reactions Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women N. % N. % N. % N. % N. % N. % N. % N. % N. % Normal 104 92.86 89 92.71 15 93.75 102 87.18 88 88.89 14 77.78 101 96.19 83 96.51 18 94.74 Psychiatric 6 5.36 5 5.21 1 6.25 12 10.26 8 8.08 4 22.22 4 3.81 3 3.49 1 5.26 PTSR 2 1.79 2 2.08 0 0.00 3 2.56 3 3.03 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 Note. N.: number of military members performed duties of community policing during the epidemic eruption of COVID-19; % percentage value; 1 Group 1: military members who had experience of community policing and some battle experience тАУ 112 people, among them: 96 (85.71%) men and 16 (14.29%) women; 2 Group 2: military members who had experience of community policing, but did not have any battle experience тАУ 117 people, among them: 99 (84.62%) men and 18 (15.38%) women; 3 Group 3 (Control): military members who did not have experience of community policing as well as any battle experience тАУ 105 people, among them: 86 (81.90%) men and 19 (18.10%) women. . By the results of using the тАЬMississippi Scale for women experienced in battle actions are practically Estimating Post-traumatic Reactions (military variant)тАЭ, equal (92.71% and 93.75% correspondingly). At the the following fact has been stated: among military-men same time among military-women inexperienced in experienced in battle actions, the quantity of people with battle actions, the quantity of certain PTSR symptoms PTSR indicators accounted for 1.79%, that is (77.78%) is fewer than among men inexperienced in significantly less than among military-men such (88.89%). inexperienced in battle actions (2.56%). Also among the During a consulting interview with a psychologist, the military-men of Group 1, certain PTSR symptoms have following PTSR manifestations have been indicated been revealed in 5.36% cases, that is nearly twice as less among this category of military-men: a loss of appetite, as among the military-men of Group 2 (10.26%). fast fatigability, worsening of physical state, sleep Control Group has shown certain PTSR symptoms in disorders, anxiety, depression, irritability, 3.81% of cases. inattentiveness, numbness, fear and despair. Psychological impact of the epidemic COVID-19 on Women displayed complaints for a feeling of personal military members and the severity of PTSR is shown in weakness, helplessness, disorientation, fear as for their percentage in Figure 1. own physical health, freight, disappointment, paranoid ideas as for the COVID-19 pandemic, while men manifested a loss of control over the situation, Indices values, % irritability, aggressive behaviour and excessive optimism. Using the module SPSS Statistics, the contingency table (cross-tabulation, crosstab) is based on two variables: according to the list of rows (group) and according to the list of columns (reaction). The value in each cell of the table is the count (frequency). The table displays the observed and expected frequencies (counts), their deviation (residual) in absolute units, frequency values in relation to the sums of rows, columns and the total in Figure 1. Psychological impact of the epidemic relative units (percentage of group, percentage of COVID-19 on military members and the severity of reaction, percentage of total). post-traumatic stress reactions. Cross-tabulation for the methods тАЬMississippi Scale for We have also revealed some certain gender peculiarities. Estimating Post-traumatic Reactions (military variant)тАЭ The normative indicators among military-men and is presented as Table A. 37 International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2020 Further detalisation of PTSR symptoms has been military-men who performed duties of maintaining civil conducted by тАЬDASS-21тАЭ and тАЬISIтАЭ methods. order during the COVID-19 pandemic, is given in Manifestations of depression, anxiety and stress among Table 2. Table 2. Manifestations of depression, anxiety and stress among military members who performed duties of community policing during the pandemic COVID-19. Group 11 Group 22 Group 3 (Control)3 Indicators Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women N. % N. % N. % N. % N. % N. % N. % N. % N. % Mean DASS-21 2.54 2.43 3.19 2.97 2.73 4.28 2.17 2.10 2.47 Anxiety score Normal 103 91.96 90 93.75 13 81.25 98 83.76 86 86.87 12 66.67 101 96.19 84 97.67 17 89.47 Mild 3 2.68 2 2.08 1 6.25 9 7.69 7 7.07 2 11.11 2 1.90 1 1.16 1 5.26 Moderate 3 2.68 2 2.08 1 6.25 5 4.27 3 3.03 2 11.11 2 1.90 1 1.16 1 5.26 Severe 2 1.79 1 1.04 1 6.25 3 2.56 2 2.02 1 5.56 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 Extrem. Severe 1 0.89 1 1.04 0 0.00 2 1.71 1 1.01 1 5.56 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 Mean DASS-21 2.26 2.33 2.50 2.88 2.63 4.28 2.17 2.14 2.47 Depression score Normal 104 92.86 90 93.75 14 87.50 99 84.62 87 87.88 12 66.67 100 95.24 83 96.51 17 89.47 Mild 3 2.68 2 2.08 1 6.25 9 7.69 7 7.07 2 11.11 3 2.86 2 2.33 1 5.26 Moderate 3 2.68 2 2.08 1 6.25 5 4.27 3 3.03 2 11.11 2 1.90 1 1.16 1 5.26 Severe 1 0.89 1 1.04 0 0.00 2 1.71 1 1.01 1 5.56 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 Extrem. Severe 1 0.89 1 1.04 0 0.00 2 1.71 1 1.01 1 5.56 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 Mean DASS-21 4.26 4.53 4.00 4.97 5.15 4.22 4.25 4.17 4.00 Stress score Normal 105 93.75 89 92.71 16 100.00 100 85.47 84 84.85 17 94.44 102 97.14 83 96.51 19 100.00 Mild 3 2.68 3 3.13 0 0.00 9 7.69 8 8.08 1 5.56 2 1.90 2 2.33 0 0.00 Moderate 2 1.79 2 2.08 0 0.00 4 3.42 4 4.04 0 0.00 1 0.95 1 1.16 0 0.00 Severe 1 0.89 1 1.04 0 0.00 2 1.71 2 2.02 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 Extrem. Severe 1 0.89 1 1.04 0 0.00 2 1.71 2 2.02 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 Note. N.: number of military members performed duties of community policing during the epidemic eruption of COVID-19; % percentage value; 1 Group 1: military members who had experience of community policing and some battle experience тАУ 112 people, among them: 96 (85.71%) men and 16 (14.29%) women; 2 Group 2: military members who had experience of community policing, but did not have any battle experience тАУ 117 people, among them: 99 (84.62%) men and 18 (15.38%) women; 3 Group 3 (Control): military members who did not have experience of community policing as well as any battle experience тАУ 105 people, among them: 86 (81.90%) men and 19 (18.10%) women. On the basis of questioning by тАЬDASS-21тАЭ methods we have revealed the following qualitative results by the Indices values, % scale тАЬAnxietyтАЭ for Group 1 of those who are under study: absence of anxiety symptoms has been indicated by 91.96% of military-men, insignificant and moderate manifestations of anxiety have been revealed by 2.68% of people, heavy ones тАУ by 1.79% of people, and a critical level of anxiety has been indicated only by 1 (0.89%) of military-men. Group 2 consisting of those who are under research by the scale тАЬAnxietyтАЭ has manifested the following indices: absence of anxious symptoms has been indicated by 83.76% of military- men, insignificant ones тАУ by 7.69%, moderate тАУ by Figure 2. Manifestations of depressions among military 4.27%, heavy manifestations of anxiety have been members who performed duties of community policing noticed by 2.56% of people, and excessively heavy during the pandemic COVID-19. manifestations of anxiety have been revealed by 1.71% of military-men. Control Group has shown insignificant By the scale тАЬDepressionтАЭ the absence of depressive indices by the тАЬAnxietyтАЭ scale: only 2 (1.90%) of people symptoms has been noticed by 92.86% of military-men have revealed insignificant and moderate manifestations of Group 1, 84.62% of Group 2 and 95.24% of military- of anxiety. An average point by the scale тАЬAnxietyтАЭ for men of Control Group. Insignificant manifestations of Group 1 has made 2.54 which is less than the indices for depression have been indicated by 2.68% of people of Group 2 (2.97) and Control Group (2.17). It should be Group 1, 7.69% of Group 2 and 2.86% of military-men noted that the average point by the тАЬAnxietyтАЭ scale for of Control Group. Moderate manifestations of military-women has constituted 1.3-1.5 times as much depression by people of Group 1 have made 2.68% that than military-men and has made 3.19 and 4.28 points for is significantly less than by Group 2 (4.27%) and Groups 1 and 2 correspondingly. Control Group (1.90%) of military-men. Heavy and Manifestations of depressions among military members extremely heavy manifestations of depression have been who performed duties of community policing during the shown by 0.89% of military-men experienced in battle pandemic COVID-19 are shown in percentage in actions, which is much lower than indicators of military- Figure 2. men inexperienced in such (1.71%). 38 ╤Аrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa IJSA Manifestations of anxiety among military members who performed duties of community policing during the Indices values, % pandemic COVID-19 are shown in percentage in Figure 3. Indices values, % Figure 4. Manifestations of stress among military members who performed duties of community policing during the pandemic COVID-19. Figure 3. Manifestations of anxiety among military This category of military-men has indicted not only a members who performed duties of community policing pessimistic way of thinking, self-depreciation in case of during the pandemic COVID-19. failure, exaggeration of drawbacks and diminishing An average point by the scale тАЬDepressionтАЭ for Group 1 personal dignity, selective attention to negative sides of comprised 2.26 points that is a little lower, than the nowadays reality, hypertrophic perception of personal indices for Group 2 (2.88) and Control Group (2.17). By responsibility, suicide ideas, but also a so-called the scale тАЬDepressionтАЭ the average point among тАЬcognitive triadтАЭ: negative self-perception; negative military-women, inexperienced in battle actions, has perception of their past and present; negative perception been 1.6 times more than the indices of military-men of of future as joyless and dull. the same group. At the same time the indices of the For all this the highest indices of the average point average point by the scale тАЬDepressionтАЭ for military- among military-women by the scale тАЬAnxietyтАЭ and women and men inexperienced in battle actions has not тАЬDepressionтАЭ have been revealed by women differed considerably (2.50 and 2.33 points inexperienced in battle actions, while the average point correspondingly). among military-men inexperienced in battle actions by The average point by the scale тАЬStressтАЭ for Group 1 has the scale тАЬStressтАЭ is the highest (5.15 points) among all made 4.26 that is a little lower of the indices for Group 2 gender groups of those who are under research. (4.97) and equals to the average point of military-men of Cross-tabulation for the methods тАЬThe Depression Control Group (4.25). For all this, the average point of Anxiety Stress ScalesтАЭ is presented as Table B. military-men experienced in battle actions is the highest Manifestations of sleep disorders among military-men, (5.15 points) among all gender groups of those who are who committed their duty of maintaining public order under study. during the COVID-19 pandemic, have been presented in The indices of the research DASS-21 by the scale Table 3. тАЬStressтАЭ for Group 1 are the following: absence of stress Studying sleep disorders among military-men who symptoms has been noticed by 93.75% of military-men; committed their duty of maintaining public order during insignificant manifestations of stress have been the COVID-19 pandemic, by тАЬISIтАЭ methods have shown indicated only by 2.68% of people; moderate that in Group 1 of those who are under research: absence manifestations тАУ by 1.79% of people; heavy and of symptoms of clinically significant insomnia has been extremely heavy manifestations have been shown by observed by 87.50% of military-men, subthreshold 0.89% of military-men. For military-men inexperienced insomnia has been stated by 10.71% of people, in battle actions, the indices of тАЬDASS-21тАЭ research by moderately severe clinical insomnia тАУ only by 1.79% of the scale тАЬStressтАЭ have been higher: insignificant people. We have not revealed any severe clinical manifestations of stress have been noticed by 7.69% of insomnia. people, moderate manifestations тАУ by 3.42% of people, Among military-men of Group 2 the absence of heavy and extremely heavy тАУ by 1.71% of military-men. insomnia symptoms has been revealed by 75.21% of Manifestations of stress among military members who military-men, subthreshold insomnia has been observed performed duties of community policing during the by 19.66% of people, moderately severe clinical pandemic COVID-19 are shown in percentage in insomnia has been revealed by 3.42% of military-men, Figure 4. while severe clinical insomnia тАУ by 1.71% of military- So, it has to be stated that among military-men men. Control Group has shown insignificant indices by experienced in battle actions, a number of people with тАЬISIтАЭ methods: 95.24% have not given any sign of indicators of evident stress and marked anxious and clinically significant insomnia, 3.81% of military-men depressive symptoms is significantly lower than the have stated subthreshold insomnia, and only 0.95% of quantity of military-men with similar symptoms people have indicated severe clinical insomnia. inexperienced in any battle actions. In our opinion it is Manifestations of sleep disorders among military connected with the fact that performing duties in members who performed duties of community policing conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic is less stressful during the pandemic COVID-19 are shown in than battle actions themselves for military-men. percentage in Figure 5. 39 International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2020 Table 3. Manifestations of sleep disorders among military members who performed duties of community policing during the pandemic COVID-19. Group 11 Group 22 Group 3 (Control)3 Indicators Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women N. % N. % N. % N. % N. % N. % N. % N. % N. % Mean ISI score 5.62 5.76 6.56 6.97 6.62 8.89 5.35 5.21 6.00 No clinically significant 98 87.50 85 88.54 13 81.25 88 75.21 77 77.78 11 61.11 100 95.24 83 96.51 17 89.47 insomnia Subthreshold 12 10.71 10 10.42 2 12.50 23 19.66 19 19.19 4 22.22 4 3.81 3 3.49 1 5.26 insomnia Moderately severe clinical 2 1.79 1 1.04 1 6.25 4 3.42 2 2.02 2 11.11 1 0.95 0 0.00 1 5.26 insomnia Severe clinical 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 1.71 1 1.01 1 5.56 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 insomnia Note. N.: number of military members performed duties of community policing during the epidemic eruption of COVID-19; % percentage value; 1 Group 1: military members who had experience of community policing and some battle experience тАУ 112 people, among them: 96 (85.71%) men and 16 (14.29%) women; 2 Group 2: military members who had experience of community policing, but did not have any battle experience тАУ 117 people, among them: 99 (84.62%) men and 18 (15.38%) women; 3 Group 3 (Control): military members who did not have experience of community policing as well as any battle experience тАУ 105 people, among them: 86 (81.90%) men and 19 (18.10%) women. Discussion In Wuhan (Hubei, China) in December, 2019, a severe Indices values, % acute respiratory syndrome of coronavirus (SARS-CoV- 2) has been indicated (Dong, Du, & Gardner, 2020; Lauer et al., 2020). Initially, the new virus was called 2019-nCoV. Subsequently, the task of experts of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) termed it the SARS-CoV-2 virus as it is very similar to the one that caused the SARS outbreak (SARS-CoVs) (Cascella, Rajnik, Cuomo, Dulebohn, & Di Napoli, 2020). This coronavirus leads to potentially mortal disease Figure 5. Manifestations of sleep disorders among called COVID-19 (Rothan & Byrareddy, 2020). military members who performed duties of community The spread of COVID-19 has acquired a pandemic policing during the pandemic COVID-19. nature (A. Remuzzi & Remuzzi, 2020). The average point by тАЬISIтАЭ methods in Group 2 (6.97) By now the disease has spread over more than a hundred exceeded considerably the indices of Group 1 (5.62) and of countries of the world and has embraced a million of Control Group (5.35), that proves qualitative disorders people (Johns Hopkins University, Coronavirus in the form of shortening the length of night sleep, too Resource Center, 2020). late falling asleep, too early waking-up, frequent Fast spreading, a wide range and consequences have interruptions of sleep during a night. It should be placed this problem to the first place among scientific indicated that the average point by тАЬISIтАЭ methods among research. the women has been higher in all the groups than among The COVID-19 pandemic is having a profound effect on the men (see Figure 6). To our mind it has resulted from all aspects of society, including mental health as well as a higher level of their extraversion and stress in physical health (Brooks et al., 2020; Holmes et al., 2020; conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shigemura, Ursano, Morganstein, Kurosawa, & Cross-tabulation for the methods тАЬInsomnia Severity Benedek; 2020. IndexтАЭ is presented as Table C. The scientific publications emphasis the urgency of collecting high-quality data of the affect of the COVID- 19 pandemic on the mental health of the whole population and vulnerable groups in particular. It is Indices value, points emphasised that certain research and recommendations should be developed in order to lessen the consequences of the affect of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of vulnerable groups (Holmes et al., 2020). Managing mental health challenges faced by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic has been researched (Greenberg, Docherty, Gnanapragasam, & Wessely, 2020), it has been studied in the sphere of education as well (Ara├║jo de Oliveira et al., 2020). The influence of consequences of the COVID-19 Figure 6. Mean тАЬISIтАЭ score. pandemic on mental health in the clinical aspect has 40 ╤Аrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa IJSA been researched (Fiorillo & Gorwood, 2020), in the traumatic Reactions (military variant)тАЭ, have shown that psychological aspect (Tan, 2020). in the group of military-men experienced in battle Pandemics are much more dangerous phenomena actions, who committed their duties of maintaining compared with natural disasters, such as earthquakes or public order during the pandemic outbreak, tsunamis (Morganstein & Ursano, 2020), even manifestations of PTSR symptoms are nearly twice as comparing the pandemic with wars and international low as in the group of military-men inexperienced in mass conflicts. Under such circumstances people can battle actions. Military-men experienced in battle orientate themselves, while in conditions of the actions display anxiety, depression, stress and sleep pandemic тАЬthreatтАЭ can be everywhere and it can be even disorders considerably more rarely than military-men communicated by a person nearby (Kaniasty, 2019). inexperienced in such. In our mind it is stipulated by the Among the groups with an extremely high risk to catch fact that committing professional duties in conditions of the disease can be not only the medical staff that works the COVID-19 pandemic is less stressful for military- in departments of first aid and reanimation, but also men experienced in battle actions than the battle actions policemen and military-men who commit their themselves which they are adapted to. professional duties, work with people who can be We have revealed certain gender peculiarities. An infected. average point by the scale тАЬAnxietyтАЭ among military- That is why the topic of resistance to post-traumatic women of Groups 1 and 2 has been indicated as 1.3-1.5 stress reactions of vulnerable groups (military-men), times higher than among military-men. At the same time engaged into the pandemic liquidation is urgent and is the indices of the average point by the scale still insufficiently researched by scientists. тАЬDepressionтАЭ for military-women and men experienced It is also necessary to pay attention to the problem in battle actions have not differed considerably. The concerning stigma and discrimination to infected people average point of military-men inexperienced in battle or those who can be referred potentially to them. actions, by the scale тАЬStressтАЭ is the highest among all Fighting with social stigma to the infected people and gender groups of those who are under research. Sleep those who commit their professional duties in conditions disorders (the average point by тАЬISIтАЭ methods) have of the COVID-19 pandemic has to become one of the been considerably higher among military-women, than priorities for specialists in the field of mental health in among military-men in all the groups that is connected, the nearest months (Fiorillo & Gorwood, 2020). to our mind, with their higher extraversion and stress in Social and psychological aspects of stigmatisations of the COVID-19 pandemic. military-men as an interdisciplinary problem, has been We consider the perspective of further scientific studied in (Melnyk, 2019; 2020). research in studying effectiveness of implementing the The problem of influence of extreme conditions on model of medical and psychological support of mental health of military-men has been researched in professional activity (Melnyk et al., 2019), as well as (Melnyk & Stadnik, 2018). developing on this ground the most efficient events of The given research indicates the similarity of symptoms medical and psychological support and psycho- and consequences revealed by different groups of prophylaxis among vulnerable professional categories military-men who committed their professional duties in engaged in the pandemic liquidation. various extreme conditions (Melnyk et al., 2019). A high level of correlation between the results of this research Funding source allows making an assumption as for possible efficiency This research received no specific grant from any of using the model of medical and psychological support funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for- of the professional activity (Melnyk et al., 2019) to profit sectors. military-men, who were engaged into liquidation of the COVID-19 pandemic. This model has been tested on Ethical approval military-men who are under various extreme conditions, The study protocol was consistent with the ethical and it has been applied for estimating the state of mental guidelines of the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki as health, outlining tendencies and providing preventing reflected in a prior approval by the InstitutionтАЩs Human measures for development of mental disorders. Research Committee. Conclusions References So authors of the article have researched the resistance Ahaiev, N. A., Kokun, O. M., Pishko, I. 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Reaction Group Indicator Total Normal Psychiatric PTSR Count 104 6 2 112 Expected Count 102.9 7.4 1.7 112.0 Percentage of Group 92.9 5.4 1.8 100.0 Group 1 Percentage of Reaction 33.9 27.3 40.0 33.5 Percentage of Total 31.1 1.8 0.6 33.5 Residual 1.1 -1.4 0.3 - Count 102 12 3 117 Expected Count 107.5 7.7 1.8 117.0 Percentage of Group 87.2 10.3 2.6 100.0 Group 2 Percentage of Reaction 33.2 54.5 60.0 35.0 Percentage of Total 30.5 3.6 0.9 35.0 Residual -5.5 4.3 1.2 - Count 101 4 0 105 Expected Count 96.5 6.9 1.6 105.0 Percentage of Group 96.2 3.8 0.0 100.0 Group 3 Percentage of Reaction 32.9 18.2 0.0 31.4 Percentage of Total 30.2 1.2 0.0 31.4 Residual 4.5 -2.9 -1.6 - Count 307 22 5 334 Expected Count 307.0 22.0 5.0 334.0 Total Percentage of Group 91.9 6.6 1.5 100.0 Percentage of Reaction 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 Percentage of Total 91.9 6.6 1.5 100.0 Table B. Crosstab for the methods тАЬThe Depression Anxiety Stress ScalesтАЭ. Level Group Indicator Total Normal Mild Moderate Severe Extremely Severe Count 103/104/105 3/3/3 3/3/2 2/1/1 1/1/1 112 Expected 101.3/101.6/102.9 4.7/5.0/4.7 3.4/3.4/2.3 1.7/1.0/1.0 1.0/1.0/1.0 112.0 Count Percentage of 92.0/92.9/93.8 2.7/2.7/2.7 2.7/2.7/1.8 1.8/0.9/0.9 0.9/0.9/0.9 100.0 Group Group 1 Percentage of 34.1/34.3/34.2 21.4/20.0/21.4 30.0/30.0/28.6 40.0/33.3/33.3 33.3/33.3/33.3 33.5 Level Percentage of 30.8/31.1/31.4 0.9/0.9/0.9 0.9/0.9/0.6 0.6/0.3/0.3 0.3/0.3/0.3 33.5 Total Residual 1.7/2.4/2.1 -1.7/-2.0/-1.7 -0.4/-0.4/-0.3 0.3/0.0/0.0 0.0/0.0/0.0 - Count 98/99/100 9/9/9 5/5/4 3/2/2 2/2/2 117 Expected 105.8/106.1/107.5 4.9/5.3/4.9 3.5/3.5/2.5 1.8/1.1/1.1 1.1/1.1/1.1 117.0 Count Percentage of 83.8/84.6/85.5 7.7/7.7/7.7 4.3/4.3/3.4 2.6/1.7/1.7 1.7/1.7/1.7 100.0 Group Group 2 Percentage of 32.5/32.7/32.6 64.3/60.0/64.3 50.0/50.0/57.1 60.0/66.7/66.7 66.7/66.7/66.7 35.0 Level Percentage of 29.3/29.6/29.9 2.7/2.7/2.7 1.5/1.5/1.2 0.9/0.6/0.6 0.6/0.6/0.6 35.0 Total Residual -7.8/-7.1/-7.5 4.1/3.7/4.1 1.5/1.5/1.5 1.2/0.9/0.9 0.9/0.9/0.9 - Count 101/100/102 2/3/2 2/2/1 0/0/0 0/0/0 105 Expected 94.9/95.3/96.5 4.4/4.7/4.4 3.1/3.1/2.2 1.6/0.9/0.9 0.9/0.9/0.9 105.0 Count Percentage of 96.2/95.2/97.1 1.9/2.9/1.9 1.9/1.9/1.0 0.0/0.0/0.0 0.0/0.0/0.0 100.0 Group Group 3 Percentage of 33.4/33.0/33.2 14.3/20.0/14.3 20.0/20.0/14.3 0.0/0.0/0.0 0.0/0.0/0.0 31.4 Level Percentage of 30.2/29.9/30.5 0.6/0.9/0.6 0.6/0.6/0.3 0.0/0.0/0.0 0.0/0.0/0.0 31.4 Total Residual 6.1/4.7/5.5 -2.4/-1.7/-2.4 -1.1/-1.1/-1.2 -1.6/0.9/-0.9 -0.9/0.9/-0.9 - Count 302/303/307 14/15/14 10/10/7 5/3/3 3/3/3 334 Expected 302.0/303.0/307.0 14.0/15.0/14.0 10.0/10.0/7.0 5.0/3.0/3.0 3.0/3.0/3.0 334.0 Count Percentage of 90.4/90.7/91.9 4.2/4.5/4.2 3.0/3.0/2.1 1.5/0.9/0.9 0.9/0.9/0.9 100.0 Total Group Percentage of 100.0/100.0/100.0 100.0/100.0/100.0 100.0/100.0/100.0 100.0/100.0/100.0 100.0/100.0/100.0 100.0 Level Percentage of 90.4/90.7/91.9 4.2/4.5/4.2 3.0/3.0/2.1 1.5/0.9/0.9 0.9/0.9/0.9 100.0 Total Note. Each cell of the crosstab contains three indicator values, as the methods тАЬThe Depression Anxiety Stress ScalesтАЭ contains three scales (тАЬDepressionтАЭ/тАЬAnxietyтАЭ/тАЬStressтАЭ). 43 International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2020 Table C. Crosstab for the methods тАЬInsomnia Severity IndexтАЭ. Severity of insomnia Group Indicator No clinically Moderately Total Subthreshold Severe clinical significant severe clinical insomnia insomnia insomnia insomnia Count 98 12 2 0 112 Expected Count 95.9 13.1 2.3 0.7 112.0 Percentage of Group 87.5 10.7 1.8 0.0 100.0 Group 1 Percentage of Insomnia 34.3 30.8 28.6 0.0 33.5 Percentage of Total 29.3 3.6 0.6 0.0 33.5 Residual 2.1 -1.1 -0.3 -0.7 - Count 88 23 4 2 117 Expected Count 100.2 13.7 2.5 0.7 117.0 Percentage of Group 75.2 19.7 3.4 1.7 100.0 Group 2 Percentage of Insomnia 30.8 59.0 57.1 100.0 35.0 Percentage of Total 26.3 6.9 1.2 0.6 35.0 Residual -12.2 9.3 1.5 1.3 - Count 100 4 1 0 105 Expected Count 89.9 12.3 2.2 0.6 105.0 Percentage of Group 95.2 3.8 1.0 0.0 100.0 Group 3 Percentage of Insomnia 35.0 10.3 14.3 0.0 31.4 Percentage of Total 29.9 1.2 0.3 0.0 31.4 Residual 10.1 -8.3 -1.2 -0.6 - Count 286 39 7 2 334 Expected Count 286.0 39.0 7.0 2.0 334.0 Total Percentage of Group 85.6 11.7 2.1 0.6 100.0 Percentage of Insomnia 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 Percentage of Total 85.6 11.7 2.1 0.6 100.0 Cite this article as: Melnyk, Yu. B., Stadnik, A. V., & Pypenko, I. S. (2020). Resistance to Post-traumatic Stress Reactions of Vulnerable Groups Engaged in Pandemic Liquidation. International Journal of Science Annals, 3(1), 35тАУ44. doi:10.26697/ijsa.2020.1.5 The electronic version of this article is complete and can be found online at: http://ijsa.culturehealth.org/en/arhiv This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en). 44