Polish students reported high levels of depression and stress after Russia's aggression against Ukraine, higher than Ukrainian students, an international study has shown. The result is consistent with other analyses indicating that students from conflict-free countries often experience greater stress than those from war zones.
Studies indicate that following the full-scale aggression by Russia against Ukraine in 2022, a significant proportion of adult Ukrainians are suffering from anxiety, depression, insomnia and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Teenagers and young adults, including students who are in a key phase of personal and professional development, are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of war and political conflict.
'Direct and indirect threats related to war can affect the well-being of students both in war-torn countries and in neighbouring countries, albeit in different ways. Compared to Ukrainian students, Polish students may adopt different coping mechanisms', says the study co-author, Barbara Ostafińska-Molik, PhD, from the Institute of Pedagogy at the Faculty of Philosophy of the Jagiellonian University.
Jagiellonian University researchers, together with scientists from SWPS University, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and the National University of Singapore, conducted a comparative analysis of the mental health, coping strategies and well-being of Ukrainian and Polish students during the Russian-Ukrainian war. The results of the study were published in the journal Critical Public Health.
627 Ukrainian students studying and living in Ukraine and 669 Polish students in Poland participated in the online study conducted between March 2023 and May 2024.
According to the study, Polish students reported higher levels of depression and stress compared to Ukrainian students. In terms of symptom severity, over 57% of Polish students scored moderate to very severe depression, and over 49% - moderate to very severe stress. In the case of Ukrainian students, the figures were almost 37% and 42% for depression and stress, respectively. The intensity of anxiety symptoms was slightly different. Over 53% of Polish students experienced moderate to very severe symptoms, compared to over 59% of Ukrainian students who fell into these categories.
'This result is surprising, but consistent with previous studies that have shown that students living in conflict-free zones often experience higher levels of stress than those living in war zones. The discrepancy may be attributed to indirect but common stressors, such as proximity to conflict and refugee influx, which may create heightened levels of anxiety and uncertainty. It is worth noting that students from neighbouring countries, such as Czechia and Slovakia, also experienced significant psychological effects related to war. In contrast, Ukrainian students, despite being in a conflict zone, may have developed adaptive coping mechanisms or a sense of resilience as a result of long-term exposure to the difficulties they experienced', Barbara Ostafińska-Molik comments.
In both countries, female students experienced higher levels of stress. This finding is consistent with previous studies that have shown that even in periods of peace, female students tended to show higher levels of depressive symptoms. Age was negatively correlated with anxiety in the group of Polish students and with anxiety and stress in the group of Ukrainian students. 'This suggests that older students may have more developed coping mechanisms and greater emotional maturity, which helps them manage stress and anxiety more effectively', the Jagiellonian University researcher explains.
Overall, Ukrainian students scored higher on well-being and, among other things, lower levels of loneliness than Polish students. However, the strategies for coping with stress differed between the two groups. Polish students scored higher on the ability to cope with problems and emotions, but at the same time, compared to Ukrainian students, they more often used the avoidance strategy, i.e. running away from situations that, for example, cause anxiety. Meanwhile, using this method was associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress in both groups. 'This result highlights the unfavourable nature of the avoidance strategy, which, instead of relieving stress, deepens negative psychological symptoms', Barbara Ostafińska-Molik points out.
In turn, Ukrainian students scored higher on the so-called positive reappraisal, i.e. evoking positive emotions despite difficult experiences. Positive emotions proved to be the strongest protective factor against anxiety and stress, and especially against depression.
'The results indicate that stress experienced by young people may depend on sociodemographic factors, such as gender, financial situation and age, which were significantly associated with poorer mental health outcomes. Our research highlights the need for psychological interventions that take these factors into account', the Jagiellonian University researcher concludes.
Ewelina Krajczyńska-Wujec (PAP)
PAP - Science in Poland
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