Hope and Distress. A Cross-Country Study Amid the Russian-Ukrainian War

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F67985955%3A_____%2F25%3A00619614" target="_blank" >RIV/67985955:_____/25:00619614 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.70033" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.70033</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smi.70033" target="_blank" >10.1002/smi.70033</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Hope and Distress. A Cross-Country Study Amid the Russian-Ukrainian War

Original language description

Conflict deeply affects human experiences, frequently testing individual resilience to its breaking point and leaving enduring psychological and societal wounds. The current conflict in Ukraine, initiated by Russia’s invasion in 2022, illustrates this phenomenon by altering regional relationships and triggering a major humanitarian crisis marked by extensive displacement, loss of life, and emotional turmoil. This study explores the factors influencing hope and distress in Ukraine alongside six nearby European countries during the ongoing conflict. A cross-sectional survey collected data primarily via internet panel samples from the Czech Republic, Georgia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine in the second year since the war’s initiation. The current study utilised validated instruments, collecting data on levels of hope, distress, individual resilience, community resilience, societal resilience, morale, sense of danger, perceived security threats, and demographic characteristics. Hope and distress levels differ across countries, with Ukraine exhibiting the highest levels of both (3.74 +/- 1.02 and 2.89 +/- 0.87, respectively). Overall, average scores of hope were higher than average distress levels. Across the regression models for the seven countries, hope showed strong associations with individual (between beta = 0.089 and beta = 0.327) and societal resilience (between beta = 0.206 and beta = 0.514), while morale (between beta =0.104 and beta =0.479) and individual resilience (between beta =0.077 and beta =0.335) displayed a protective relationship against distress (all beta values were significant, p < 0.01). Monitoring hope and distress is crucial during the Russian-Ukrainian war and other adversities, as these factors give insight into the current and future psychological states of affected populations. The results offer valuable information that can guide the development of tailored strategies to enhance hope and buffer distress in war-impacted countries, as well as those experiencing its broader effects. Fostering individual and societal resilience, alongside enhancing morale, may strengthen hope and mitigate distress amid adversity. Developing targeted interventions that address each population’s unique needs, as well as their sociocultural and geopolitical contexts can enhance efficacy.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

60301 - Philosophy, History and Philosophy of science and technology

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

STRESS AND HEALTH

ISSN

1532-3005

e-ISSN

1532-2998

Volume of the periodical

41

Issue of the periodical within the volume

2

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

14

Pages from-to

e70033

UT code for WoS article

001477561700007

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105002596895