Psychological well-being of Ukrainian students three months after the emerge of full-scale war
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1
Institute of Psychiatry, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine
2
Department of Neurology, Psychiatry and Physical Rehabilitation, Kyiv Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine
3
Uniwersytet Jagielloński Collegium Medicum, Wydział Lekarski, Katedra Psychoterapii
Submission date: 2023-10-11
Final revision date: 2023-12-04
Acceptance date: 2023-12-15
Online publication date: 2024-02-28
Publication date: 2024-02-28
Corresponding author
Katarzyna Klasa
Uniwersytet Jagielloński Collegium Medicum, Wydział Lekarski, Katedra Psychoterapii
Psychiatr Pol 2024;58(1):121-151
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ABSTRACT
Objectives:
To depict overall psychological well-being of a large group of students of different universities in Ukraine three months after the emerge of the full-scale war.
Methods:
A total of 1,142 participants were asked to measure their psychological well-being on a 0–10 scale before and after the onset of full-scale war. Mental health symptoms were measured with questionnaires targeting depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), sleep problems (ISI), eating disorders (SCOFF), alcohol abuse (CAGE), and PTSD symptoms (PC-PTSD-5). To evaluate the connection between variables a χ2 was conducted. Phi and Cramer’s V coefficient were stated to demonstrate the power of the relationships. Additionally, machine learning (the XGBoost regression model) was used to build a predictive model for depressive symptoms.
Results:
Of all respondents, 66% screened positive for PTSD symptoms, 45% – moderate and severe anxiety symptoms, 47% – moderate and severe depressive symptoms. Regarding sleep, alcohol use and eating behavior, 19% of surveyed students had signs of moderate and severe insomnia, 15% reported alcohol abuse and 31% disordered eating. The severity of the aforementioned disorders varied depending on gender, year of study, social status, etc. According to the predictive model, lower initial psychological well-being, female gender, younger age, first years of study and any traumatic experience, including multiple trauma, predicted increases in depression score. Return to home after relocation was a protective factor.
Conclusions:
The study demonstrated the high prevalence of mental health symptoms among university students in Ukraine during the first months of the full-scale war. The psychological well-being pre-war was the strongest predictor of depressive symptoms in the model.