Psychological growth during the war: Ukrainian experience — ASN Events
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Psychological growth during the war: Ukrainian experience (#149)

Nataliia I. Pogorilska 1 , Ganna O. Naydonova 2
  1. Department of General Psychology, Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University, Kyiv, Ukraine
  2. Department of Special Psychology and Medicine, National Pedagogical Dragomanov University, Kyiv, Ukraine

Background

Experiencing war as a traumatic event have consequences from life disorganisation to discovery of hidden psychological reserves. It is about phenomenon of post-traumatic growth - psychological growth resulting from trauma.

Aims: to determine features of the psychological growth of Ukrainians during the war.

Method

Quantitative design was used (correlational analysis, Cramer’s V, regression analysis, ANOWA).

194 people (17 - 49 y.o.) were examined using Posttraumatic Growth Inventory; The Time Experience Scale; Ten Item Personality Measure (TIPI) (May-June 2022).

Results

High level of time continuity (83.9% of the sample), emotional pleasantness (82.4%), relaxation (90.7%): perception of time as smooth, continuous, monotonous, stretched. Individuals experience infinity of time because their lives are insignificant on historical event, taking place now. Individuals, experienced this time period as emotionally pleasant, indicate a high level of increase in appreciation for life.

Continuity of time stimulates emergence of new interests, desire to make life better; conscientiousness - growth of personal strength, extraversion - increase in appreciation for life. Continuity of time and openness to new experiences stimulate to see opportunities for growth, emergence of new interests in psychotraumatic situation, reveals breadth of perspective. Time continuity indicates adaptability, absence of psychological "shock" from full-scale russian invasion to Ukraine. Perceiving time as continuous, being open to new experiences prevents focusing on losses, directs attention to new horizons, helps to increase personal strength. Conscientiousness and extraversion participate in increasing of life appreciation. Emotional instability and tension of time become an obstacle to spiritual growth, allows to improve attitude towards others.

Individuals with the lowest level of posttraumatic growth have the highest level of emotional pleasantness, individuals with an average level have the lowest level.

Conclusion

The result of experiencing war as a psycho-traumatic situation opens up new opportunities, forces Ukrainians to make lives better by experiencing a sufficient amount of time for changes. Factors of post-traumatic growth were perception of time, vision of new possibilities, increasing appreciation for life.

  1. Tedeschi R.G., Shakespeare-Finch J., Taku K., & Calhoun L.G. Posttraumatic Growth. Theory, Research, and Applications. (1st ed.). Routledge. 2018. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315527451
  2. Broerman, R. Diathesis-Stress Model. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_891-1
  3. Golovakha E.I., Kronyk O.O. Psychological Time of Personality. Kyiv: Naukova Dumka. 209 p.
  4. Klymchuk V.O. Psychology of Posttraumatic Growth: Monograph. Kropyvnytskyj: Imeks-LTD, 2021. 158 p.
  • Please select up to 3 keywords from the following list to best describe your submission content: Resilience and Posttraumatic Growth
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