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.

Systematicity of receiving mental health care predicts better subjective well-being of Ukrainians during the second year of the Russian invasion

“…, 2022a). CFA confirmed the five-factor structure of BBC-SWB (CFI = 0.94; TLI = 0.93; RMSEA = 0.06; CI 90%: 0.06) as proposed in previous research (Velykodna et al. , 2024).…”

“…Living with a friend is rarely used as a variable in mental health studies (Velykodna et al, 2024). Most research suggests the positive effect of friendship and perceived support from friends on mental health (Schwartz-Mette et al, 2020) and well-being (Hudson et al, 2020), including at work (Karamushka et al, 2023) and in older age (Huxhold et al, 2013;Wolff, 2013).…”

“…However, a cross-cultural study showed that the association between social support from friends and well-being depends on cultural specifics (Brannan et al, 2013). As for Ukrainians, a preliminary finding was recently reported regarding the contribution of friends living in the household to mitigating PTSD and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) symptoms among trauma-exposed adults (Velykodna et al, 2024). In our study, living with a friend, though not prevalent, appeared to be among the strongest predictors of subjective well-being, which requires further investigation of what stands beyond this experience, including the friendship quality (Schwartz-Mette et al, 2020).…”

“…Living with a friend is rarely used as a variable in mental health studies (Velykodna et al. , 2024).…”

“…AAQ-2 was developed as one scale scored from 7 to 49 points with a cutoff of 25 points reflecting psychological inflexibility. The questionnaire was adapted in Ukrainian (Shyroka and Mykolaychuk, 2021) and later confirmed the three-factor structure: "Perceived Unsuccess in Life" with Items 5-7, "Non-acceptance of Emotions" with Items 2, 3, 5 and "Regret for Past" with Items 1, 4 (Velykodna et al, 2024). CFA for the three-factor structure was considered satisfactory (CFI ¼ 0.99; TLI ¼ 0.99; RMSEA ¼ 0.05; CI 90%: 0.04-0.07).…”