Analysis of the mental health of ukrainian youth aged 17–24 in the context of martial law

Abstract

The article is devoted to the topical issue of assessing and analyzing the mental health of Ukrainian youth (aged 17–24) in conditions of prolonged martial law, which is critically important for the formation of strategies for psychosocial support and preservation of the country‘s human capital. It has been determined and substantiated that a significant proportion of the young people surveyed (over 25%) have clinically significant signs of mental health disorders, including anxiety, PTSD, and mood disorders. At the same time, female gender and insufficient physical activity are the most pronounced aggravating factors (risk factors) for the development of these conditions. Empirical data have been obtained that indicate the important protective role of sufficient physical activity in maintaining the mental health of young people in wartime. The results of the study provide a scientifically sound basis for the development of targeted, gender-sensitive, and behavior-oriented programs for psychosocial support and prevention of mental disorders among Ukrainian youth. Purpose. Comprehensively establish the characteristics and severity of mental health disorders (depression, anxiety, mood disorders, PTSD, and psychopathological syndromes) among students aged 17–24 studying at higher education institutions in Kyiv under martial law, as well as to determine how these indicators are influenced by factors such as gender, level of physical activity, and experience of relocation after February 2022. Materials and methods. A prospective selective observational study was conducted between January 2024 and September 2025. The study population consisted of 316 civilians (88 men and 228 women) aged 17–24 years. Data were collected once using an anonymous questionnaire. The associations between mental disorders and factors (gender, physical activity, displacement status) were studied using Pearson‘s criterion. Results. A general analysis showed that most young people (58.2–74.7%) did not have clinically significant manifestations of depression, PTSD, mood disorders, or psychopathological syndromes. However, the level of anxiety was high: only 43.4% of those surveyed did not have anxiety, and 20.9% had clinically significant (moderate/severe) symptoms. It was also found that clinically significant mental health disorders were observed in: PTSD – 26.0% (82/316) of cases, mood disorders – 25.3% (80/316) of cases, depression – 19.3% (61/316) of cases. Key influencing factors: 1. Women, who more often have moderate anxiety (p<0.05) and a higher incidence of PTSD (29.9% vs. 15.9% in men, p<0.05). 2. With insufficient physical activity, all types of disorders were recorded significantly more often compared to individuals with sufficient activity: mild depression (33.3% vs. 12.7%, p<0.001), significant anxiety (12.5% vs. 3.3%, p<0.01), signs of PTSD (41.7% vs. 21.3%, p<0.001), and significantly pronounced psychopathological syndromes (12.5% vs. 4.1%, p<0.05). 3. Displacement (both internal and temporary departure abroad) significantly increased the risk of developing PTSD (33.3% and 36.8%, respectively, compared to 21.0% in those who did not move, p<0.05). Conclusions. The highest level of vulnerability is observed among women and people with low levels of physical activity. The data obtained emphasize the importance of not only providing psychological assistance, but also integrating sufficient physical activity (150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of intense exercise per week) into psychosocial support programs to increase the psychological resilience of young people in the context of ongoing conflict.