Basenko O. M. Peculiarities of Adolescents' Experience of the Armed Conflict Stressful Events. – Qualified research work (manuscript).
Dissertation to obtain the scientific degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Field 05 “Social and Behavioral Sciences”, specialty 053 “Psychology”. – National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Kyiv, 2023.
The thesis provides a theoretical generalization and empirical study of the problems of adolescents' psychological experience of stressful events of military conflicts. The indicators of psycho-emotional state and resilience of adolescents from the frontline zone in the East of Ukraine were diagnosed and analyzed. Influence of the psycho-correctional program on development of resilience in adolescents in the context of military conflict is substantiated. Psychological and pedagogical recommendations for the development and implementation of effective, scientifically based programs for the development of resilience and psychological recovery, prevention and correction of disorders in the psycho-emotional sphere of adolescents affected by the consequences of military conflicts are developed.
The research determined that adolescents who have experienced events related to the military conflict in the East of Ukraine have symptoms of psycho-emotional problems: psychological stress, depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, behavioral and interpersonal problems. The study also revealed the presence of a higher than average level of resilience in the studied category of adolescents and the greatest importance of such factors of resilience development as parental support and a sense of happiness. The positive influence of parental support and happiness on reducing the symptoms of psycho-emotional disorders in adolescents, as well as a greater correlation between resilience factors and mental health indicators for adolescents with suicidal intentions, which indicates the higher importance of these protective factors for the psycho-emotional state of the studied group of adolescents, was revealed. According to the research findings the positive impact of the applied psycho-correctional program "Safe Space" on increasing the overall level of resilience and improving the psycho-emotional state of adolescents affected by the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine was established. The greatest significance of the resilience factors "parental support" and "sense of happiness" for the studied category of people was experimentally confirmed and their influence, on the one hand, on reducing the level of emotional and behavioral problems, hyperactivity, tendency to internalize problems, risk of alcohol abuse, and, on the other hand, on improving interpersonal relationships and indicators of prosocial behavior. Participation in the psycho-correctional program contributed to overall reduction in the level of emotional and behavioral problems, as well as a significant reduction in the symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in adolescents. The results of the experimental study also revealed the need to provide specialized psychotherapeutic support for individual program participants in order to avoid the possible risk of complicating psycho-emotional problems.
Based on the study results, recommendations for adjusting and improving the effectiveness of interventions for psychological correction, development and support of adolescents affected by military conflicts are formulated. It is recommended to conduct a preliminary diagnosis of psycho-emotional state of psycho-correctional programs’ participants in order to identify existing psycho-emotional problems and assess possible risk factors; it is also important to take into account the socio-cultural and situational features of the specific context of this target group, the peculiarities of the adolescent's relationships with family, friends, relationships in the educational institution and the closest ties, as well as to take into account the impact of possible specific external stressors and, accordingly, provide for adjustments to the plan and process of conducting classes to further develop the skills necessary in this situation and prevent the development of possible psycho-emotional disorders.
Key words: resilience, resilience development factors, adolescents, psycho-emotional problems, experiences, stress, military conflict, war, psychological trauma, psychological correction.
