Psychological Health of the Staff of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine During Martial Law

Abstract

The article analyzes the parameters of psychological health of the personnel of the State Criminal and Executive Service of Ukraine during martial law. The study was conducted in the summer of 2023. The respondents were employees of penitentiary institutions from different interregional departments (N=127). The questionnaires “Mental Health Stability – Short Form” and “Modified BBC Subjective Wellbeing Scale” were used. We consider psychological health to be a dynamic state of internal well-being of an individual that ensures its optimal functioning. It is shown that prosperity as the highest degree of psychological health is more pronounced in middle managers, and the most depressed are freelance workers. Those with junior and senior managerial status occupy an intermediate position. The highest rates of psychological health parameters were recorded for personnel of both sexes, such as a sense of meaning in life and its interest. Women have a statistically significantly higher assessment of warm, trusting relationships with others. The lowest scores were recorded by respondents of both sexes in the following parameters: faith in people, faith in improving social conditions for life, and assessment of their contribution to society. For men, the most important thing for maintaining psychological health is a sense of their own importance for social life, as well as the experience of their own competence as an ability to solve everyday problems and manifest their life position. For women, the ability to lead a life that is meaningful in their own estimation and to be satisfied with their relationships is more important for maintaining psychological health. As the length of holding a service position increases, men are characterized by an increased sense of self-worth and satisfaction with team relationships, while women are characterized by a high level of professional competence. The results can be used by psychologists to provide more effective psychological support to the personnel of the SCES of Ukraine. Key words: psychological health, subjective social well-being, subjective well-being, penitentiary institutions, martial law.