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Психологические последствия пережитого травматического опыта у старших подростков на территориях, в разной степени пострадавших в результате боевых действий
Context and relevance. The analysis of the screening data allows us to identify the specifics of the psychological consequences of traumatic experience among adolescents during periods when psychophysiological changes occur during age crisis and are superimposed on traumatic experiences. Objective: to analyze the content of traumatic experience and its psychological consequences among students in grades 9–11 living in territories affected by fighting to varying degrees. Hypothesis. 1. The content of traumatic experiences, severity of maladaptation, and symptoms of PTSD, as well as psychological coping resources vary among students living in regions affected by combat to varying degrees. 2. An increase in traumatic events, both related and unre- lated to combat, is associated with an increase in PTSD symptoms, maladaptation, and a depletion of psychological coping resources. 3. The severity of PTSD symptoms is statically significantly associated with increased maladjustment in all spheres of life and depletion of psychological resources for coping with stress. Methods and materials. The study involved 3,300 adolescents aged 15–18 years in three groups of re- gions (New territories, border regions, and control group regions). Among them, 2011 were paired with their parents. The condition of the adolescents was assessed using the “Screening methodology for assessing the condition of children who have experienced the consequences of hostilities», a set of methods for assessing adolescent psycholog- ical resources in coping with stress, a questionnaire for assessing traumatic experiences, and a “Parental questionnaire» for assessing the traumatic experiences of adolescents. Results. Adolescents living in regions affected by fighting (New territo- ries and border regions) have had more extensive experience with traumatic experi- ences, both related and unrelated to the consequences of the fighting. High rates of PTSD are particularly common among adolescents from New territories. In adolescents of all three groups of regions (New territories, border regions, and regions in- cluded into control group), the predominance of mild and moderate degrees of maladjustment were revealed, while the indicators of maladjustment were significantly higher in the control group areas. Traumatic experiences unrelated to combat showed more significant associations with maladjustment across all indicators. Conclusions. When working with teenagers living in areas prone to combat, it is important not to overlook the presence of traumatic experiences related to family or close social environment. The experience of traumatic events in a family or close social environment among older adolescents is more likely to hinder the formation of resilience, and there-fore, its use as a resource to coping with stress. The data obtained show the need to investigate PTSD and maladjustment as separate phenomena.