Coping with war stress in Ukrainian students

Abstract

War is one of the most severe stress factors that can lead to anxiety-depressive disorders, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional dysfunctions. 106 students of the I-III courses of the Poltava State Medical University participated in the study of the personal students` characteristics of overcoming military stress in the conditions of a full-scale war in Ukraine. Based on the research results a low level of stress resistance was found in 36.7±0.3% of students, and a marginal level – in 47.2±0.3%. Students with a low stress resistance level demonstrated a high degree of stress load against the background of the predominance of the formation of maladaptive strategies of coping behavior, therefore they belong to the risk group of the development of psychosomatic disorders and adaptation disorders, they need psychological support in order to optimize the psychological resources of the individual to successfully cope with the state of stress, minimizing its negative impact, forming sustainable methods of protective behavior and coping, which in turn will be a guarantee of preserving the health of future employees of the health care system. The ability to effectively cope with stressful situations, using resources of stress resistance, will help students not only to be socially-adapted individuals who make responsible decisions in professional activities and effectively interact with people, but also to maintain health by giving up destructive ways of coping with stress.