Manifistations of Continuous Traumatic Stress Among Adolescents in War
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29038/2227-1376-2025-45-solKeywords:
continuous traumatic stress, adolescents, depression, anxiety, sleep qualityAbstract
Purpose. The aim of this study is to examine the psychological characteristics of adolescents' experiences of war-related trauma, with particular attention to symptoms of continuous traumatic stress (CTS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, loneliness, and sleep disturbances.
Methods. The study involved 485 adolescents aged 12 to 18. Standardized diagnostic assessment tools were used: The Continuous Traumatic Stress Response scale (CTSR), the Child PTSD Symptom Scale for DSM-5 (CPSS-5), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depression, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, correlation, and linear regression analyses.
Results. The findings reveal high psycho-emotional vulnerability among adolescents living in wartime conditions. Clinically significant symptoms of depression were found in 25.6% of participants, anxiety in 20.8%, PTSD in 28.2%, and sleep disturbances in 43.9%. Correlation analysis indicated strong associations between CTS and depression (r = 0.85), anxiety (r = 0.79), PTSD (r = 0.78), and sleep quality (r = 0.56). Linear regression revealed that depression, PTSD, and anxiety were the robust predictors of CTS, while loneliness and sleep quality were not independently significant. The overall regression model is significant, p<.001.
Conclusions. Adolescents exposed to war experience have poor psycho-emotional effects. Depression, anxiety, and PTSD are the key factors contributing to the development of CTS. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted psychosocial support programs focused on the prevention of chronic stress and the stabilization of adolescents' emotional states in crisis conditions during war.
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