FEATURES OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL STATE OF YOUNG PEOPLE DURING MILITARY CONFLICTS

Abstract

This article presents a theoretical analysis of the psychological and emotional characteristics of young individuals in the context of military conflict. Youth are viewed as a socio-psychological group with heightened sensitivity to external stressors, particularly during the formative period of identity development, emotional regulation, and life strategy formation. Military events – accompanied by loss, instability, social isolation, and a breakdown of basic security – can significantly alter the course of emotional maturation, activating deep-seated defense and adaptation mechanisms. The aim of the article is to identify the key psycho-emotional markers of youth responses to extreme wartime conditions and to examine the interrelations among anxiety, depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alexithymia, and fundamental personality traits that shape individual coping strategies. The methodological framework includes a theoretical analysis of contemporary approaches in developmental, general, military, social, and clinical psychology, as well as concepts of psychological resilience, alexithymia, anxiety, PTSD, and social frustration. The article also presents empirical data from a study involving 207 participants aged 17–25. Quantitative data were processed using Pearson’s correlation analysis. The findings reveal statistically significant associations between anxiety, depression, PTSD, and alexithymia with personality traits such as introversion, emotional instability, social detachment, and reduced expressiveness. Conversely, extraversion, emotional stability, social connectedness, and expressiveness were correlated with positive emotional states, subjective well-being, activity, and mood. These results emphasize the importance of accounting for individual psychological variables when designing support programs and interventions for youth in wartime. Developing differentiated approaches tailored to personality structure, emotional regulation capacity, and social adaptability is a critical step toward preserving mental health under conditions of chronic threat.