Manifestation of Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Men and Women Living in Armed Conflict Conditions in the East of Ukraine

Abstract

The article presents the results of an empirical study of the manifestations of posttraumatic stress disorder in a civilians living in the conditions of an armed conflict. It is revealed that the level of posttraumatic disorder depends on the state of health, the level of human resourcefulness and the degree of depression, as well as the coping behavior that is used in a stressful situation. It has been established that the residents from the areas of intensive shelling (the second group) are more likely to experience poor health, lower vital activity, and worsening of the mood. It is determined that the civilians from the areas of intense shelling characterized by depressive states of different levels, and their personal resourcefulness is decreasing. It was revealed that in the extreme conditions of life under constant stress the respondents of the second group most often use unproductive behavior strategies: emotional coping (more often in women), and avoidance-oriented coping (more evident in men). It is proved that in the second group of respondents (from the areas of intensive shelling) the average and elevated level of posttraumatic disorder prevails.

Keywords

• armed conflict
• areas of intensive shelling
• areas of low-intensity shelling
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• coping strategies