Page 39 - IJSA, Vol. 7, No 1, 2024

International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 7, No. 1, 2024
рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa

possible misinterpretation of the questions and optimised sweating, dizziness and occasional panic. The gender
the response time. peculiarity of depression is its prevalence among women
Nevertheless, this has provided important information in all groups, with the highest levels of depression among
that provides an insight into the mental health status of women in Group 4 (Kharkiv region) in 2024.
the sample and allows conclusions to be drawn about the The studied dynamics of anxiety among students showed
dynamics of this process over the last two years, which an increase in moderate, severe and extremely severe
can help to take early action to improve the mental health manifestations of anxiety both among students in Group
status of students. 3 (the Transcarpathian region and the EU) and among
students in Group 4 (the Kharkiv region). At the same
Conclusions time, the anxiety scores of Group 4 students increased
In conclusion, the ongoing war in Ukraine has had a more than 3-fold in 2024 and were the highest of the all
negative impact on the mental health of university groups. The symptoms included palpitations, pain behind
students. the breastbone, rapid breathing, excessive sweating,
Our longitudinal studies conducted in 2022-2024 showed trembling, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, and frequent
that university students in the Transcarpathian region of urination and sleep problems. Gender peculiarities: the
Ukraine and EU countries are characterised by a anxiety scores of women and men in the Transcarpathian
significant decrease (by 3 to 4 times) in the following region and the EU are not significantly different, and
psychogenes: risk of personal safety, fear of injury, and among all gender groups, anxiety is most pronounced
risk of property loss. This indicates a reduction in their among women in Group 4 in 2024.
role in the psychological trauma of students. At the same The recorded dynamics of stress among university
time, there was a significant increase in problems with students during the war showed a certain stabilisation and
romantic relationships, problems related to martial law (8 the absence of acute stress among students in the
times), problems communicating with friends/relatives Transcarpathian region and the EU, as well as an increase
and the risk of death of relatives/family (3 times). in minor and moderate stress among students in the
Among university students who did not change their Kharkiv region. Symptoms included palpitations,
place of permanent residence and stayed in the frontline difficulty breathing, insomnia, frequent diarrhoea (or,
area of the Kharkiv region in 2022-2024, we recorded a conversely, constipation), acute respiratory problems,
significant increase in the following psychogenes: skin problems (neurodermatitis), allergies, tremors and
problems communicating with friends/relatives, sticky hands. The gender specificity of stress
problems related to martial law, problems in romantic manifestations among students is the prevalence of stress
relationships (more than 3 times), the risk of losing among males in all groups studied. In 2024, men in
housing, the risk of death of relatives, and problems Group 4 (Kharkiv region) had the highest level of stress,
communicating with friends/relatives (more than 2 indicating that these respondents had acute mental
times). In our opinion, this is due to the problems of disorders.
mobilisation, frequent rocket and drone attacks on the The dynamics of general depression, anxiety and stress
frontline areas, the intensification of the enemy’s scores among university students during the war showed
information and psychological operations and the a trend towards an increase in depression and anxiety and
escalation of the situation on the frontline. At the same a stabilisation of stress scores. This indicates the
time, there is a decrease in the risk to personal safety (by chronicity of neurotic disorders among students in the
1/3), which can be explained by a certain adaptation of context of the protracted war in Ukraine. Symptoms
the students to the conditions of the frontline region included increasing complaints of low mood, low self-
during this period. esteem, pessimism, apathy, lethargy, fatigue, constant
Gender dynamics are characterised by a significant dissatisfaction and hopelessness.
prevalence of psychogenic factors such as separation In our view, the prospect of further research lies in the
from relatives and family (Groups 1 and 3) and problems development of effective measures of psychological
with romantic relationships and new residences (Groups support and psychoprophylaxis among students.
2 and 4). For women, the greatest risks are personal
safety (in the Transcarpathian region and the EU), fear of Acknowledgments
The authors would like to express their gratitude to all the
death, and the risk of death for relatives and family (in
the Kharkiv region). participants who completed the questionnaire and all who
helped us in distributing and gathering the questionnaires
A more detailed study of the dynamics of
psychopathological symptoms, carried out using the required for the data collection.

DASS-21 technique, showed that in 2022-2024 among Ethical Approval
students in the Transcarpathian region and the EU, the The study protocol was consistent with the ethical
scores of minor, moderate, severe and extremely severe guidelines of the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki, as
manifestations of depression increased more than 2-fold. reflected in prior approval by the Institution’s Human
Among students living in the Kharkiv region, it increased Research Committee. Permission for this research was
more than 5-fold and was the highest of all student received from the Research Committee of Virtue and
groups. This indicates a serious deterioration in students’ Ethics Scientific Research Institute KRPOCH (protocol
mental health and is usually manifested by frequent no. 023-3/SRIKRPOCH dated 10.08.2023). Informed
headaches, stomach aches, rapid heartbeat or breathing, consent was sought from all the participants.

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