International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 5, No. 1-2, 2022 рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. Psychology ORIGINAL RESEARCH Psychological Distress among Students and Cadets of Universities in the War Conditions Authors’ Contribution: Stadnik A. V. 1,4 ABCDEG , Melnyk Yu. B. 2,3 ADEFG , A – Study design; Babak S. A. 1 B , Vashchenko I. V. 1 B , Krut P. P.1 B B – Data collection; 1 C – Statistical analysis; Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, Ukraine 2 D – Data interpretation; Kharkiv Regional Public Organization “Culture of Health”, Ukraine 3 E – Manuscript preparation; Scientific Research Institute KRPOCH, Ukraine 4 F – Literature search; Social-Psychological Center KRPOCH, Ukraine G – Funds collection Received: 22.11.2022; Accepted: 18.12.2022; Published: 25.12.2022 Abstract Background and The full-scale military aggression against Ukraine in February 2022 had an Aim of Study: extremely negative impact on the psyche of its residents. This is especially felt by young people who should continue studying at universities in these difficult conditions. The aim of the study: to identify the specifics of psychotraumatic impact in the conditions of war and martial law on university students and cadets, to detail their level of stress, anxiety and depression. Material and Methods: The study was conducted in November 2022 based on KNUIA, Ukraine. Respondents aged 20-27 were divided into 3 groups: 1) 115 cadets: 85.22% men and 14.78% women, who are outside of permanent deployment; 2) 107 students: 59.81% men and 40.19% women, who are forcibly displaced persons in Ukraine and abroad; 3) 103 students: 50.49% men and 49.51% women, located in Kharkiv and Kharkiv region. A Google-form questionnaire was used to study the level and nature of psychotraumatization. Data collection on the level of stress and its content was carried out using the DASS-21 tool. Results: Among the group 3 respondents, the psychotraumatic impact is characterized by high tension and the specific weight of vital psychogenia. Severe and extremely severe manifestations of anxiety in group 3 students were 2-3 times higher than the similar indicators of groups 1, 2 respondents. Manifestations of depression among women are the highest in group 3 respondents. Stress was more expressed among men in all groups. Group 3 respondents had the highest stress (distress) indicators among men. Conclusions: The negative impact of the war in Ukraine on the student youth’ mental health requires the active implementation of psychological assistance and psychoprophylaxis measures in accordance with the individual results of psychodiagnostics. Keywords: mental health, psychotraumatic impact, anxiety, depression, stress, students, war Copyright: © 2022 Stadnik A. V., Melnyk Yu. B., Babak S. A., Vashchenko I. V., Krut P. P. Published by Archives of International Journal of Science Annals DOI and UDC DOI https://doi.org/10.26697/ijsa.2022.1-2.0 UDC 159.972 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 Stadnik Anatoliy Volodymyrovych (Corresponding Author) – the authors: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1472-4224; stav1963@ukr.net; Doctor of Philosophy in Medicine, Associate Professor, MD, Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs; Director, Social-Psychological Center KRPOCH, Ukraine. Melnyk Yuriy Borysovych – https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8527-4638; Doctor of Philosophy in Pedagogy, Associate Professor; Chairman of Board, Kharkiv Regional Public Organization “Culture of Health” (KRPOCH); Director, Scientific Research Institute KRPOCH, Ukraine. 20 International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 5, No. 1-2, 2022 рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa Babak Serhiy Anatoliyovych – https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2248-454X; Doctor of Philosophy in Military Science, Senior Researcher, Head of the Department of Military Training, Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, Ukraine Vashchenko Ihor Vladyslavovych – https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1444-7538; Doctor of Philosophy in History, Associate Professor, Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, Ukraine Krut Petro Pavlovych – https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4554-7870; Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy, Associate Professor, Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, Ukraine Introduction In February 2022, the Russian army invaded the territory outside its borders. The group consisted of 107 people, of Ukraine and started a military aggression. As a result, including 64 (59.81%) men and 43 (40.19%) women. martial law was declared in Ukraine. Violation of the Group 3 is the KNUIA students who did not change their mental health of the population during the war is a well- place of permanent residence during the war and are known problem. War and martial law have a negative located in the territory of Kharkiv and Kharkiv region. impact on the psyche of an individual because they are The group consisted of 103 people, including 52 traumatic in their essence. (50.49%) men and 51 (49.51%) women. Thus, according to the latest research results (Gradus To study the level and nature of psychotraumatization of Research, 2022), about 42% of Ukrainian citizens the KNUIA cadets and students in war and martial law complain of a feeling of tension, and 41% of a feeling of conditions, we used an online questionnaire based on fatigue. 72% of the population of Ukraine call war the standard Google-forms. We developed it in accordance most frequent cause of stress. with the objectives of this research and made public One of the risk groups and psychological problems in (KNUIA Department of Military Training & KRPOCH, war and martial law conditions is youth, including 2022). students. During the war, young people are affected by The questionnaire is anonymous and consists of 17 the following psychogenic factors: physical, mental and questions related to the place of study, gender, age, information-psychological overload, personal danger region of residence and factors of psychological and the danger of loved ones, loss of income source or traumatization of the individual in war conditions. job, loss of home and property, risk of death, etc. All this Data collection on the stress level and its content was leads to the emergence of such psychological disorders carried out using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, (DASS-21) tool. The research was conducted using etc. (Gradus Research, 2022). online networks: Telegram, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc. As Joshi and O’Donnell (2003) note, mental disorders in by sending a questionnaire to respondents. In addition, war are actually “normal response to abnormal events”. observation was carried out in all groups during remote This makes it necessary to study the influence of and face-to-face classes. psychogenic factors of war on youth studying at DASS-21 tool (short form DASS, 21 questions) is universities and to analyze mental disorders during the designed to measure negative emotional states of war among all categories of students. depression, anxiety and stress. The DASS subscales The aim of the study. To identify the specifics of were evaluated according to the technique (Psychology psychotraumatic impact in war and martial law Foundation of Australia, 2022). The number of cadets conditions on university students and cadets, to detail and students with normal, minor, moderate, severe and their level of stress, anxiety and depression for the extremely severe symptoms was assessed. According to development of psychological assistance and the “Depression” / “Anxiety" / “Stress” scales, the psychoprophylaxis measures. manifestations of the indicators are: normal (0-3/0-4/0- 7 points), minor (5-6/4-5/8-9 points), moderate (7-10/6- Materials and Methods 7/10-12 points), severe (11-13/8-9/13-16 points), The study was conducted in November 2022 during the extremely severe (14+/10+/17+). The average score on Russian-Ukrainian war. the scales was calculated as the arithmetic mean of the The respondents of the study were cadets and students indicators. The advantage of this technique is its studying at the Department of Military Training of the universality, as it is suitable for clinical and non-clinical Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs conditions (Henry & Crawford, 2005). (KNUIA), Ukraine. The age of the researched was 20- 27 years. Results We separated three groups from them: Assessments of the level and nature of Group 1 is the KNUIA cadets who are outside the psychotraumatization of the KNUIA cadets and students borders of permanent deployment on the territory of in the war and martial law conditions were found using Ukraine. The group consisted of 115 people, including an online questionnaire (KNUIA Department of 98 (85.22%) men and 17 (14.78%) women. Military Training & KRPOCH, 2022). The results are Group 2 is the KNUIA students who are forcibly presented in Table 1 and Figure 1. displaced persons and are in the territory of Ukraine or 21 International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 5, No. 1-2, 2022 рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa Table 1 Psychogenic Factors Affecting to Respondents Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 (n=115, including 98 male, 17 female) (n=107, including 64 male, 43 female) (n=103, including 52 male, 51 female) Factors female female female male male male total total total % % % % % % % % % Risk of 12 10.4 9 9.2 3 17.7 14 13.1 6 9.4 8 18.6 65 61.9 26 50.0 39 76.5 personal safety Fear of getting 14 12.2 12 12.2 2 11.8 13 12.2 7 10.9 6 14.0 26 24.8 18 34.6 8 15.7 hurt Risk of house 10 8.7 6 6.1 4 23.5 23 21.5 11 17.2 12 27.9 14 13.3 6 11.5 8 15.7 losing Risk of 12 10.4 9 9.2 3 17.7 24 22.4 12 18.8 12 27.9 39 37.1 21 40.4 18 35.3 property losing Having a job or other source of 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 11 10.3 7 10.9 4 9.3 44 41.9 39 75.0 5 9.8 income Fear of death 7 6.1 6 6.1 1 5.9 9 8.4 3 4.7 6 14.0 39 37.1 17 32.7 22 43.1 Risk of death of relatives, 49 42.6 36 36.7 13 76.5 24 22.4 13 20.3 11 25.6 31 29.5 14 26.9 17 33.3 family Separation from relatives. 29 25.2 17 17.4 12 70.6 30 28.0 12 18.8 18 41.9 14 13.3 5 9.6 9 17.7 family Problems in a new place of 19 16.5 11 11.2 8 47.1 45 42.1 28 43.8 17 39.5 18 17.1 12 23.1 6 11.8 residence Problems with communication 18 15.7 14 14.3 4 23.5 27 25.2 15 23.4 12 27.9 18 17.1 8 15.4 10 19.6 with friends / loved ones Coronavirus 2 1.7 1 1.0 1 5.9 6 5.6 3 4.7 3 7.0 5 4.8 2 3.9 3 5.9 pandemic Problems of communication 10 8.7 8 8.2 2 11.8 9 8.4 5 7.8 4 9.3 8 7.6 5 9.6 3 5.9 with friends, acquaintances Problems of romantic 3 2.6 2 2.0 1 5.9 3 2.8 2 3.1 1 2.3 7 6.7 5 9.6 2 3.9 relationships Figure 1 The Level of Manifestation of Psychogenic Factors According to Three Groups of Respondents 22 International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 5, No. 1-2, 2022 рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa Based on the obtained results, it was established that for The smallest specific weight for group 3 respondents is group 1 of respondents (cadets), the most important the following psychogenies: the coronavirus pandemic factors of mental trauma are the risk of death of and romantic relationship problems, which do not relatives, family (42.61%), separation from relatives, exceed 5-6%. family (25.22%), and problems of adaptation to a new The significance of the problems of living in a new place place of residence (16.52%). for the respondents of groups 1 (42.06%) and 2 For group 2 of respondents (students who are in the (16.52%) is explained by a certain uncertainty of the territory of Ukraine and beyond), problems of situation regarding the duration of the war in Ukraine adaptation to a new place of residence are relevant and the deterioration of the life quality in the new place. (42.06%), separation from relatives, family (28.04%), The relevance of problems with communication with problems with communication with friends/relatives friends/relatives for groups 2 (25.23%) and 1 (15.65%) (25.23%). is caused both by their significance for respondents and At the same time, for group 3 respondents (students the importance of communication using mobile and located in Kharkiv region), the indicators of mental Internet communication for young people in general. It trauma were higher than other groups and included the is related to the dissemination of socially significant following: personal safety risk (61.90%), lack of work information, which is a cognitive resource in the process or other source of income (37.14%), fear of death and of forming ideas, opinions, value orientations and risk of property loss (37.86%). The high specific weight adequate behavior. Therefore, the violation of mobile of vital psychogenia among the respondents of group 3 and Internet communication after the Russian shelling is explained by the complex military-humanitarian of Ukraine is always perceived sensitively by the youth. situation and essentially inhuman conditions of Further detailing of symptoms of mental trauma was existence in Kharkiv and the region (daily rocket carried out using the DASS-21 tool. attacks, frequent stays in shelters, lack of light, water Manifestations of anxiety among the KNUIA cadets and and heat in some areas, deaths and injuries of the students in the war and martial law conditions are shown population from shelling and anti-personnel mines, etc.). in Figure 2. Figure 2 The Level of Manifestation on Anxiety among Respondents Based on the research conducted using the DASS-21 For group 2 respondents: the absence of anxiety tool, we found the following quantitative results on the symptoms was observed in 86.92% of servicemen, “Anxiety” scale. minor – in 6.54%, moderate – in 3.74%, severe For respondents of group 1: the absence of anxiety manifestations of anxiety were observed in 1.87% of symptoms was observed in 92.17% of people, minor and people, and extremely severe manifestations of anxiety moderate manifestations of anxiety appeared in 3.48% appeared in 1 (0.93%) student. of people, severe – in 0.87% of people, and a critical For the respondents of group 3, severe (3.88%) and level of anxiety was not observed. extremely severe (2.91%) manifestations of anxiety 23 International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 5, No. 1-2, 2022 рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa were 2-3 times higher than similar indicators of groups 76.47% of women in groups 2 and 1. At the same time, 1 and 2. similar indicators for men in groups 3, 2, 1 were 84.62%, It should be noted that, according to the results of the 93.75%, 94.90%, respectively. study, anxiety is more pronounced in women of all Manifestations of depression among the KNUIA cadets groups. The absence of anxiety symptoms was observed and students in the war and martial law conditions are only in 66.67% of women in group 3, 76.74% and shown in Figure 3. Figure 3 The Level of Manifestation on Depression among Respondents According to the “Depression” scale, the absence of The study indicators according to the “Stress” scale for depressive symptoms was observed in respondents of group 1 are as follows: absence of stress symptoms was group 1 (93.04%), group 2 (86.92%) and group 3 observed in 93.91% of cadets; minor manifestations of (78.64%). Minor manifestations of depression were stress were observed only in 3.48% of people; moderate observed in 3.48% of group 1 respondents, in 6.54% of manifestations in 1.74% of people; they were severe in group 2 respondents, and in 9.71% of group 3 0.87% of people. respondents. Moderate manifestations of depression in For students of group 2, the indicators were slightly respondents of group 1 amounted to 2.61%, which is higher: minor manifestations of stress were observed in significantly less than in respondents of groups 2 8.41% of people, moderate manifestations in 3.74%, (3.74%) and 3 (5.83%). Severe depression was present severe and extremely severe manifestations (distress) in in 1.87% and 3.88% of students of groups 2 and 3, which 0.93% of people. is significantly higher than the indicators of cadets in Group 3 of students had the highest indicators: minor group 1 (0.87%). Extremely severe manifestations of manifestations of stress were observed in 11.65% of depression were not observed in the cadets of group 1, people; moderate manifestations in 5.83% of people; while they were observed in students of groups 2 severe manifestations in 2.91%, extremely severe (0.93%) and 3 (1.94%). manifestations (distress) in 1.94% of people. Gender characteristics: depression is more pronounced It should be noted that according to the results of the in women of groups 2 and 3. The rate of absence of study, stress was more pronounced among men depression in women of groups 2 (81.40%) and 3 compared to women in all groups. Moreover, the highest (88.24%) is less than similar indicators for men in indicators of stress (distress) among men were among groups 2 and 3: 93.02% and 94 ,12% respectively. male students of group 3. The absence of stress Among male cadets of group 1 (94.12%), the rate of symptoms was observed in 71.15% of men in group 3, absence of depression is slightly higher than among 81.25% in group 2, and 93.88% in group 1. Similar females (88.24%). indicators for women of groups 3, 2 and 1 were 84.31%, Manifestations of stress among the KNUIA cadets and 93.02%, 94.12%, respectively. students in the war and martial law conditions are shown in Figure 4. 24 International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 5, No. 1-2, 2022 рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa Figure 4 The Level of Manifestation on Stress among Respondents The general indicators of anxiety, depression and stress martial law conditions are shown in Figure 5 and among the KNUIA cadets and students in the war and Table 2. Figure 5 The Level of Manifestation on the General Indicators of Anxiety, Depression and Stress among Respondents 25 International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 5, No. 1-2, 2022 рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa Table 2 Manifestations of Anxiety, Depression and Stress among the Respondents Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 (n=115, including 98 male, 17 female) (n=107, including 64 male, 43 female) (n=103, including 52 male, 51 female) Manifestation female female female level male male male total total total % % % % % % % % % Absent 106 92.17 93 94.90 13 76.47 93 86.92 60 93.75 33 76.74 78 75.73 44 84.62 34 66.67 Minor 4 3.48 2 2.04 2 11.76 7 6.54 2 3.13 5 11.63 11 10.68 4 7.69 7 13.73 Moderate 4 3.48 3 3.06 1 5.88 4 3.74 1 1.56 3 6.98 7 6.80 2 3.85 5 9.80 Severe 1 0.87 0 0.00 1 5.88 2 1.87 1 1.56 1 2.33 4 3.88 1 1.92 3 5.88 Extremely 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.93 0 0.00 1 2.33 3 2.91 1 1.92 2 3.92 severe Average score 2.26 2.18 2.71 2.47 2.22 2.84 2.95 2.58 3.33 (Anxiety) Absent 107 93.04 92 93.88 15 88.24 93 86.92 58 90.63 35 81.40 81 78.64 44 84.62 37 72.55 Minor 4 3.48 3 3.06 1 5.88 7 6.54 3 4.69 4 9.30 10 9.71 4 7.69 6 11.76 Moderate 3 2.61 2 2.04 1 5.88 4 3.74 2 3.13 2 4.65 6 5.83 2 3.85 4 7.84 Severe 1 0.87 1 1.02 0 0.00 2 1.87 1 1.56 1 2.33 4 3.88 1 1.92 3 5.88 Extremely 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.93 0 0.00 1 2.33 2 1.94 1 1.92 1 1.96 severe Average score 1.96 2.29 2.47 2.66 2.44 3.00 3.17 2.83 3.51 (Depression) Absent 108 93.91 92 93.88 16 94.12 92 85.98 52 81.25 40 93.02 80 77.67 37 71.15 43 84.31 Minor 4 3.48 3 3.06 1 5.88 9 8.41 7 10.94 2 4.65 12 11.65 8 15.38 4 7.84 Moderate 2 1.74 2 2.04 0 0.00 4 3.74 3 4.69 1 2.33 6 5.83 4 7.69 2 3.92 Severe 1 0.87 1 1.02 0 0.00 1 0.93 1 1.56 0 0.00 3 2.91 2 3.85 1 1.96 Extremely 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 0.93 1 1.56 0 0.00 2 1.94 1 1.92 1 1.96 severe Average score 3.68 4.38 4.24 4.82 5.14 4.35 5.45 5.83 5.06 (Stress) The average score on the “Anxiety” scale for group 1 was psychogenic influence of the military-humanitarian 2.26 points, which is less than the indicators of groups 2 situation in Kharkiv and the region that existed at the time (2.47 points) and 3 (2.95 points). In our opinion, this is of the study. It should be noted that the average score of explained by the long-term uncertainty of the military groups 1, 2, and 3 on the “Stress” scale among men was and humanitarian situation in Kharkiv and the region at significantly higher than among women, and amounted the time of the study. It should be noted that the average to 4.38, 4.35, and 5.83 points, respectively, which was score on the “Anxiety” scale for female students of manifested when communicating in online classes in the groups 3 (3.33 points) and 2 (2.84 points) was form of irritability, aggression, excessive optimism, approximately 1.29 times higher than that of male drowsiness, tension and irritability. students. This manifested in them in the form of helplessness, uncertainty, helplessness, powerlessness, Discussion insecurity, loneliness, premonition of failure, inability to Studying the mental health of student youth who continue make a decision, etc. their education in war and martial law conditions remains The average score on the “Depression” scale for group 3 an insufficiently studied topic. Since for a long time was 3.17 points, which is also significantly higher than European countries with a high level of development of the indicators for groups 2 (2.66 points) and 3 (1.96 the higher education system were not in war and martial points). Among the gender features on the “Depression” law conditions. Kharkiv is the most student city of scale, it is possible to note that the average score of Ukraine, with more than 30 state institutions of higher female students in the territory of Kharkiv and the region education (universities, academies), as well as a large was the highest among all groups and amounted to 3.51 number of scientific institutions, colleges and private points. For male and female cadets of group 1, the educational institutions of various types. Therefore, one average score on the “Depression” scale was of the Kharkiv universities, which provides education for significantly lower and practically did not differ: 2.47 both students and cadets, was chosen for the study. In and 2.29 points, respectively. This is explained, in our addition, the choice of the research participants was opinion, by the standard protected conditions of determined by the fact that they all studied at the KNUIA accommodation and training. Depression manifested Department of Military Training. After graduation, they itself in them during classes in the form of bad mood, low received a military rank and could be involved in military self-esteem, pessimism, apathy, lethargy, quick fatigue, operations. constant dissatisfaction, abandonment and hopelessness. So, the relevance of this study was determined by the The average score on the “Stress” scale for students of need to provide both psychological assistance to students group 3 was the highest among all respondents (5.45 and cadets, as well as assistance in organizing the points). In our opinion, this is explained by the high 26 International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 5, No. 1-2, 2022 рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa educational process for all stakeholders in the conditions distress in the form of anxiety, depression, and acute of the war active phase. stress. A comprehensive study (developed questionnaire and It is known that mental health and psychosocial support DASS-21 tool) made it possible to identify psychogenic programmes are some of the least expensive activities in factors affecting cadets and students in war and martial humanitarian response. However, they can have a law conditions, as well as to detail psychopathological priceless impact on the lives of people who need them symptoms on “Anxiety”, “Depression”, and “Stress” (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent scales. Societies, n. d.). Current academic publications in psychology, medicine, According to independent experts, Russian military pedagogy, as well as the authors’ own experience aggression against Ukraine is an intended genocide (New allowed us to build the methodological basis of our Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy & Raoul research. Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, 2022). The presence of a humanitarian crisis negatively affects Therefore, researchers are confident that this war will the mental health of the population and can lead to cause significant damage to the mental health of the serious psychological and social consequences. Youth Ukrainian population (Shevlin et al., 2022). exposed to conflict face intense emotional stress that can It should not be forgotten that the mental health status of lead to lifelong mental health and psychosocial problems the Ukrainian population, in particular university (UNICEF, 2022). students, has already been weakened by the impact of the In addition, it must be taken into account that in the COVID-19 pandemic (Melnyk et al., 2020). context of the contemporary world globalization, the Scientists suggest that the cumulative impact of COVID- influence of a war-taking place in one country will 19 and the war in Ukraine will severely compromise inevitably lead to consequences in other countries as it physical and mental health globally, affecting Ukrainians affects international issues of politics, economics, in particular (Kalaitzaki et al., 2022). population migration, healthcare, etc. In our previous research, we studied the problem of Mental health effects of war also cut across all strata of diagnostics and prevention of mental disorders to civilians. So there is an urgent need not only for cross- preserve a personality’s mental health (Melnyk & national research on the mental health effects of war on Stadnik, 2018); psycho-diagnostic methods “Resistance civilians using improved methods of study, but also for a to military mental traumatization” was used to study the continuous re-evaluation of the nosology of these effects impact of war on the mental state of an individual (Karam & Ghosn, 2003). (Melnyk, Prykhodko, & Stadnik, 2019). Resistance to Early experience of the individual affects the state of post-traumatic stress reactions was checked using the mental health. This fact should be considered. As early following methods: “Mississippi Scale for Estimating as World War II, the effects of war on mental health and Post-Traumatic Reactions”, “Depression Anxiety Stress persistent symptoms in children were studied. Among Scales”, and “Insomnia Severity Index” (Melnyk & other, the earliest reaction is that to sirens and noise in Stadnik, 2020; Melnyk, Stadnik, & Pypenko, 2020). general. It was found that the incident was assimilated in Many years of experience in studying the problem of varying degrees according to the stage of development of preserving mental health of a personality allowed us to the child’s personality. The extraordinary toughness of develop and test effective means of preserving mental the child and his flexibility in adapting to potentially health and preventing mental disorders in war and martial threatening situations has been proven (Bodman, 1941). law conditions. After the end of the World War, local wars broke out in First of all, we focus on the fact that this research should different parts of the globe. Scientists regularly be comprehensive both in the aspect of personality conducted research on the impact of war on people in diagnosis and in the aspect of medical-psychological various aspects of population migration (Mesa-Vieira et support providing. The developed model of medical- al., 2022), their mental health, etc. In their opinion, the psychological support of specialists’ professional experience of war and displacement can have profound activity, which is verified on military-men in war effects on children’s affective development and mental conditions (Melnyk, Prykhodko, & Stadnik, 2019), health. However the mechanisms underlying these showed the effectiveness of this approach. effects remain unknown (Michalek et al., 2022). Traditional methods of psychological, educational, Current research on post-traumatic stress disorder physical cultural and healthy work can also be an interventions for children and adolescents affected by effective means of preserving the mental health of war points to a positive experience. Improved social student youth (Melnyk, 2019). Among the effective skills were indicated following most interventions. methods of psychological assistance to student youth in Nevertheless, the paucity of evidence on effective war and martial law conditions, we can recommend using treatment options for war-affected children and psychological transformation games. In particular, based adolescents was highlighted (Alzaghoul et al., 2022). on KNUIA, we used the psychological transformation Our study correlates with the results of the research by game “My Dao”, which proved the effectiveness of the Veronese et al. (2022) on social support, resilience and applied technique in these conditions (Melnyk & Stadnik, mental health in low-intensity warfare context among a 2021). sample of Palestinian university students living on the Gaza Strip. These researchers note an increase in mental 27 International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 5, No. 1-2, 2022 рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa Conclusions irritability, aggression, excessive optimism, drowsiness, Therefore, the war in Ukraine has a negative impact on tension and irritability. Students of group 3 had the the mental health of student youth. Despite the inhuman highest levels of stress (distress) among men. In our conditions of existence, especially in the territories of opinion, this is due to the high psychogenic influence of active hostilities (Kharkiv region), young people have a the military and humanitarian situation in Kharkiv and huge potential for psychological stability. Conducted the region. studies have shown that for students of KNUIA who did We see the prospect of further scientific research in the not change their place of permanent residence and who development of effective psychological assistance and are in the territory of Kharkiv and the region, the psychoprophylaxis measures among student youth. psychotraumatic impact during the war is characterized by high stress and the specific weight of vital Ethical Approval psychogenies: risk of personal safety, lack of work or The study protocol was consistent with the ethical other source of income, fear death and the risk of property guidelines of the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki as loss. For students of higher education institutions who are reflected in a prior approval by the Institution’s Human forcibly displaced persons and are outside active Research Committee. hostilities (on the territory of Ukraine and beyond) and cadets who are outside permanent dislocation, the Funding Source following psycho-traumatic factors are relevant: risk of This research did not receive any outside funding or death of relatives, separation from family and problems support. of adjustment in a new place of residence. In addition, the problem of communication with friends and relatives is References relevant for students and cadets who are outside Alzaghoul, A., McKinlay, A., & Archer, M. (2022). permanent deployment. In our opinion, this is explained Post-traumatic stress disorder interventions for by the importance of communication using mobile and children and adolescents affected by war in low- Internet connections for young people. and middle-income countries in the Middle East: Further detailing of psychopathological symptoms, Systematic review. BJPsych Open, 8(5), e153. which was carried out with the help of the DASS-21 tool, https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2022.552 showed that in students who are located in the territory of Bodman, F. (1941). War conditions and the mental health Kharkiv and the region, according to the “Anxiety” scale, of the child. British Medical Journal, 2, 486. severe and extremely severe manifestations of anxiety https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.2.4213.486 were 2-3 times higher than similar indicators of Gradus Research. (2022, October). Psykhichne zdorovia groups 1, 2. In our opinion, this is explained by the long- ta stavlennia ukraintsiv do psykholohichnoi term uncertainty of the military and humanitarian dopomohy pid chas viiny [Mental health and the situation in Kharkiv and the region during the study. attitude of Ukrainians to psychological help Anxiety is more expressed among women of all groups during the war]. than among men. The average score on the “Anxiety” https://gradus.app/documents/307/Gradus_Resea scale for female students of groups 2, 3 was rch___Mental_Health_Report_full_version.pdf approximately 1.29 times higher than that of male Henry, J. D., & Crawford, J. R. (2005). The short-form students. This manifested in them in the form of version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales helplessness, uncertainty, powerlessness, insecurity, (DASS-21): construct validity and normative data loneliness, premonition of failure, impossibility to make in a large non-clinical sample. The British Journal decisions, etc. of Clinical Psychology, 44(Pt 2), 227–239. Extremely severe manifestations of depression were not https://doi.org/10.1348/014466505X29657 observed in cadets who are outside permanent International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent deployment. At the same time, students of groups 2, 3, Societies. (n. d.). Mental health and psychosocial located in the territory of the Kharkiv region, in Ukraine support. IFRC. https://www.ifrc.org/our- and abroad, had such manifestations. Gender specifics of work/health-and-care/community-health/mental- the manifestation of depression: its greatest manifestation health-and-psychosocial-support among female students of groups 2 and 3. For male and Joshi, P. T., & O’Donnell, D. A. (2003). Consequences female cadets of group 1, the average scores on the of child exposure to war and terrorism. Clinical “Depression” scale were significantly lower and Child and Family Psychology Review, 6(4), 279- practically did not differ from each other. This is 291. explained, in our opinion, by their standard protected https://doi.org/10.1023/b:ccfp.0000006294.88201.68 accommodation and training conditions. Depression Kalaitzaki, A. E., Tamiolaki, A., & Vintila, M. (2022). during classes manifested itself in them in the form of bad The compounding effect of COVID-19 and war in mood, low self-esteem, pessimism, apathy, lethargy, Ukraine on mental health: Α global time bomb quick fatigue, constant dissatisfaction, abandonment and soon to explode? Journal of Loss and Trauma. hopelessness. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2022.2114654 Stress was more pronounced in men compared to women Karam, E., & Ghosn, M. B. (2003). Psychosocial in all studied groups. 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Journal of Physical Education and https://www.unicef.org/protection/mental-health- Sport, 19(1), 219–226. psychosocial-support-in-emergencies https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2019.s1033 Veronese, G., Pepe, A., Diab, M., Abu Jamei, Y., & Mesa-Vieira, C., Haas, A. D., Buitrago-Garcia, D., Roa- Kagee, A. (2022). Social support, resilience, and Diaz, Z. M., Minder, B., Gamba, M., mental health in a low-intensity warfare context: Salvador, D. Jr., Gomez, D., Lewis, M., the effects of siege on university students in Gaza. Gonzalez-Jaramillo, W. C., Pahud de Journal of Mental Health, 31(3), 383-391 Mortanges, A., Buttia, C., Muka, T., Trujillo, N., https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2021.1979486 Cite this article as: Stadnik, A. V., Melnyk, Yu. B., Babak, S. A., Vashchenko, I. V., & Krut, P. P. (2022). Psychological distress among students and cadets of universities in the war conditions. International Journal of Science Annals, 5(1-2), 20–29. https://doi.org/10.26697/ijsa.2022.1-2.0 The electronic version of this article is complete. It can be found online in the IJSA Archive https://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). 29