War trauma impacts in Ukrainian combat and civilian populations: Moral injury and associated mental health symptoms.

This is the first study to compare active-duty soldiers and student civilian samples during the first three months of the Ukrainian-Russian war in relation to moral injury and its association with PTSD, anxiety and depression. A total of 350 participants, including 191 active-duty soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Force (UAF), who were on the frontline during the full-scale invasion of Russian troops in February 2022, and 159 students from different HEIs in Volyn oblast, were recruited into the study through their attendance at the Ukrainian Psychotrauma Center. Prior to the in-person group-intervention program of psychosocial support for military and civil populations at the Ukrainian Psychotrauma Center, moral injury, PTSD, depression, and anxiety were assessed. Results showed significantly higher moral injury, PTSD, depression, and anxiety scores in civilian students, with a two-way ANOVA indicating a significant impact of female gender in civilians only. A hierarchical regression indicated that moral injury is a predictor of PTSD symptoms in both active-duty and civilian student groups. However, previous family trauma of genocide is associated with PTSD symptoms in active soldiers only. The findings of the current study could contribute insights for clinical practice for combatants and civilians during the current war.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Moral Injury Among Ukrainian Civilians During the Ongoing War.

While severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and moral injury among civilians affected by armed conflicts is generally understudied, even less research exists on civilian populations during an active war. This paper reports a large-scale study that administered standard assessments of PTSD and moral injury severity, as well as rich demographic questionnaires, to nearly 1300 Ukrainian civilians during the ongoing Russian invasion. Analyses revealed an extremely high prevalence of severe PTSD symptoms and moral injury, relative to both proposed clinical cut-offs and to earlier measurements from a similar population. Further regression analyses identified risk factors and protective factors. Greater severity of PTSD symptoms was observed among women, older and forcibly displaced individuals, and individuals from geographic regions under Russian occupation. Higher education correlated with milder PTSD symptoms. Moral injury was particularly strong in younger individuals. The present study is one of the first to report a large scale set of psychological data collected from the civilian population of Ukraine during the ongoing Russian invasion. It is obvious from the scope and long-term nature of the atrocities that psychological treatment of the civilian population will be required both presently, while the hostilities are ongoing, and in the future. This data contributes to a detailed understanding of the psychological response to traumatic stress, including its overall prevalence and presence in specific demographically and geographically defined civilian groups.

Challenges faced by university students during the COVID-19: An international study in five countries during the early phase of the pandemic.

This study focused on the specific challenges of university students in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and examined similarities and differences in COVID-related concerns and difficulties in functioning in samples of undergraduate students in five countries. A sample of 4306 undergraduate university students (43.8% males, 56.2% females) from Israel, Kosovo, Ukraine, Cyprus and Germany participated in an anonymous online survey during the first wave of the pandemic, between March and June 2020. Study variables included the assessment of the exposure to COVID-19, perceived health status, specific COVID-related concerns and functional difficulties, social support, and the perceived level of coping. Similar concerns about the uncertainty regarding the termination of the health crisis and worry for the health of family members were identified as the most common concerns in the five countries. Challenges in online learning and financial difficulties were rated as the most central difficulties. Both COVID-related concerns and COVID-related difficulties predicted lower levels of perceived coping. Greater social support was associated with better perceived coping. Policymakers should be informed by the accumulating research showing the substantive relationships between academic difficulties and perceived COVID-related distress and coping.

COVID-Related Functional Difficulties and Concerns Among University Students During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Binational Perspective.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a sense of threat, and stress that has surged globally at an alarming pace. University students were confronted with new challenges. This study examined university students' functional difficulties and concerns during COVID-19 pandemic in two countries: Israel and Ukraine. Additionally, it examined the similarities and differences in prediction of COVID-related concerns in both countries. Two large samples of university students were drawn from both countries. Results showed that students' main functional difficulties in both countries were: worries about their family health status and their learning assignments. In both countries, COVID-related functional difficulties and stress associated with exposure to the media added a significant amount of the explained variance of COVID-related concerns after controlling for background variables. In conclusion-while the level of exposure and difficulties may differ by country and context, their associations with students' concerns seem robust. Additionally, repeated exposure to media coverage about a community threat can lead to increased anxiety.

The Global Brain Health Survey: Development of a Multi-Language Survey of Public Views on Brain Health.

Background: Brain health is a multi-faceted concept used to describe brain physiology, cognitive function, mental health and well-being. Diseases of the brain account for one third of the global burden of disease and are becoming more prevalent as populations age. Diet, social interaction as well as physical and cognitive activity are lifestyle factors that can potentially influence facets of brain health. Yet, there is limited knowledge about the population's awareness of brain health and willingness to change lifestyle to maintain a healthy brain. This paper introduces the Global Brain Health Survey protocol, designed to assess people's perceptions of brain health and factors influencing brain health. Methods: The Global Brain Health Survey is an anonymous online questionnaire available in 14 languages to anyone above the age of 18 years. Questions focus on (1) willingness and motivation to maintain or improve brain health, (2) interest in learning more about individual brain health using standardized tests, and (3) interest in receiving individualized support to take care of own brain health. The survey questions were developed based on results from a qualitative interview study investigating brain health perceptions among participants in brain research studies. The survey includes 28 questions and takes 15-20 min to complete. Participants provide electronically informed consent prior to participation. The current survey wave was launched on June 4, 2019 and will close on August 31, 2020. We will provide descriptive statistics of samples distributions including analyses of differences as a function of age, gender, education, country of residence, and we will examine associations between items. The European Union funded Lifebrain project leads the survey in collaboration with national brain councils in Norway, Germany, and Belgium, Brain Foundations in the Netherlands and Sweden, the National University of Ostroh Academy and the Women's Brain Project. Discussion: Results from this survey will provide new insights in peoples' views on brain health, in particular, the extent to which the adoption of positive behaviors can be encouraged. The results will contribute to the development of policy recommendations for supporting population brain health, including measures tailored to individual needs, knowledge, motivations and life situations.