STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A MUSIC PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND STRESS IN MEDICAL STUDENTS TO ENHANCE RESILIENCE DURING THE WAR IN UKRAINE

Abstract

This article presents the results of a study evaluating the effectiveness of an original receptive music prevention program aimed at reducing anxiety, depression, and stress levels, as well as enhancing resilience among medical students during martial law in Ukraine. The mental health of students is significantly affected by the intensity of academic training, high educational demands, and chronic stress related to ongoing military conflict. Under these circumstances, accessible psychological interventions for supporting emotional well-being are of particular relevance. One such intervention is music listening, which facilitates emotional self-regulation, relaxation, and the strengthening of adaptive mechanisms. The study involved 46 fourth-year students of Dnipro State Medical University, divided into two groups (students of “Dentistry” and “Medicine”). The receptive music prevention program consisted of 6 consecutive days of active listening to carefully selected music tracks for 6–15 minutes per day. The music packages included classical music (days 1–3), nature sounds (day 4), jazz (day 5), and progressive rock (day 6). The program’s effectiveness was assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The findings indicate a positive trend in participants’ subjective emotional state, particularly a reduction in anxiety and stress, along with improved emotional well-being. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups; however, the overall trend suggests the potential efficacy of music prevention as a simple, safe, and accessible psychoprophylactic tool for enhancing resilience in medical students under conditions of prolonged stress. Further research with a larger sample size and an extended intervention period is warranted to more comprehensively analyze the impact of music on youth mental health in wartime conditions.