Living with a friend mediates PTSD and CPTSD symptoms among trauma-exposed Ukrainians during the second year of 2022 Russian invasion
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to develop and test multivariable psychosocial prediction models of perceived post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) symptoms development among trauma-exposed Ukrainian adults (n = 761) after 1.5 years of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Design/methodology/approach
This research was designed as a survey in line with the methodology of “Transparent reporting of a multivariable prediction model for individual prognosis or diagnosis” checklist. The survey included a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics and specifics of trauma exposure, as well as validated self-reported inventories: The International Trauma Questionnaire, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire – version 2, Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale-10 and the Modified BBC Subjective Well-being Scale.
Findings
Regression analysis revealed different prediction models for PTSD and CPTSD symptoms, explaining 18.4% and 41.4% of their variance with five and eight predictors, respectively. Four variables were similar in predicting PTSD and CPTSD: war-relatedness of trauma, living with a friend, perceived physical health and regret for the past. War-relatedness of trauma the respondents were exposed to was among the strongest predictors for PTSD and CPTSD severity. However, living with a friend was almost equally strong in mitigating these mental consequences. Regret for past and lowly rated physical health were assessed as relatively weaker but statistically significant predictors in this study.
Originality/value
Upon the original theoretical framework, two psychosocial prediction models were developed for PTSD and CPTSD symptoms in a non-clinical sample of trauma-exposed Ukrainian adults.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the citizens of Ukraine who took the time to complete this survey, and their colleagues who assisted with the development, testing and validation of the survey instrument.
Authorship statement: All authors listed meet the authorship criteria according to the latest guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All authors are in agreement with the manuscript.
Ethics approval: The ethical approval for this study was obtained from Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University, Department of Practical Psychology (Protocol #12, May 18, 2023).
Conflict of interest statement: All authors report no conflict of interest.
Citation
Velykodna, M., Charyieva, O., Kvitka, N., Mitchenko, K., Shylo, O. and Tkachenko, O. (2024), "Living with a friend mediates PTSD and CPTSD symptoms among trauma-exposed Ukrainians during the second year of 2022 Russian invasion", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-11-2023-0118
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited