Well-being of Ukrainian and Polish college students during the Russo-Ukrainian war and coping strategies as predictors of mental health disorders
The aim of the study was to compare mental health outcomes, coping strategies, and well-being between Ukrainian and Polish college students during the Russo-Ukrainian War. The sample included a total of 1,286 Ukrainian and Polish college students. An online survey was conducted using the DASS-21, PE...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Critical Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09581596.2025.2460996 |
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| Summary: | The aim of the study was to compare mental health outcomes, coping strategies, and well-being between Ukrainian and Polish college students during the Russo-Ukrainian War. The sample included a total of 1,286 Ukrainian and Polish college students. An online survey was conducted using the DASS-21, PERMA-Profiler, and Brief-COPE questionnaires were collected. Pearson correlation and SEM analyses were performed to assess the relationships between the variables. Polish college students reported significantly higher levels of depression (p < 0.001) and stress (p < 0.001) compared to Ukrainian college students. Avoidant coping was positively linked to psychological distress in both groups (p < 0.001). Problem-focused coping was a protective factor for depression (p < 0.05), anxiety (p < 0.05), and stress (p < 0.005). Socio-demographic factors, such as female gender (Polish: p < 0.05 for depression, p < 0.001 for anxiety and stress; Ukrainian: p < 0.001 for anxiety and stress), poor financial status (Polish: p < 0.001 for depression, anxiety, and stress; Ukrainian: p < 0.05 for depression), and young age (Polish: p < 0.05 for anxiety; Ukrainian: p < 0.001 for anxiety, p < 0.005 for stress) were associated with poor mental health among Polish and Ukrainian college students. The study underscores the need for targeted, gender-sensitive, and financially supportive interventions to improve the mental health and well-being of college students affected by the Russo-Ukrainian War. |
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| ISSN: | 0958-1596 1469-3682 |